1
: a board or gate at the rear of a vehicle that can be removed or let down (as for loading)
2
[from the custom of seating trombonists at the rear of trucks carrying jazz bands in parades]
: a jazz trombone style marked by much use of slides to and from long sustained tones
3
US
: tailgate party
Nowadays, tailgates have evolved into mobile feasts: face-to-face social networks where complete strangers bond over food and drink, and everyone is eager to share.—
Greg Ferro
Greg Ferro
tailgated; tailgating
1
: to drive dangerously close behind another vehicle
2
US
: to have a tailgate party
: to drive dangerously close behind
tailgater
noun
US
: relating to or being a tailgate party
Examples of tailgate in a Sentence
Verb
He hit the car in front of him because he was tailgating.
They started tailgating at 10 o'clock.
Recent Examples on the Web
New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
In a culture where weddings, cookouts, club nights, and tailgates always involve everybody on the floor, line dancing stands as a universal language.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 28 Oct. 2025
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Those numbers show just how dangerous unsafe driving can be, from weaving through traffic to tailgating or driving under the influence.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
America’s tailgate menus are just as diverse as its playbooks.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tailgate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
But instead of a simple clamshell body and inflatable cabin tent, Mitsubishi imagines it having a multipart expansion system that starts with the glassy slide-out module shown up top and continues with a rear tailgate, lift-up side hatch and slide-out kitchen.
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
In a culture where weddings, cookouts, club nights, and tailgates always involve everybody on the floor, line dancing stands as a universal language.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
Team it with ballet flats or sneakers for a casual day of apple-picking or tailgating this season, or dress it up with tights and boots for holiday celebrations and other special occasions.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Those numbers show just how dangerous unsafe driving can be, from weaving through traffic to tailgating or driving under the influence.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Each will spotlight the yumminess of Kansas City’s biggest tailgate scene.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
America’s tailgate menus are just as diverse as its playbooks.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tailgate
Cite this Entry
“Tailgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailgate. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tailgate
1 of 2 noun
tail·gate
ˈtā(ə)l-ˌgāt 
: a panel at the back end of a vehicle (as a station wagon) that can be let down for loading and unloading
tailgate
2 of 2 verb
tailgated; tailgating
: to drive dangerously close behind another vehicle
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