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
Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
Toyota smoothed out some of the launch bZ4X’s quirks, which was the right call, but there are attractive details here that command attention, like the rear light bar that juts out and stands apart from the tailgate.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 18 Feb. 2026
Michelle Cruz, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Other players are tailgating on the leading position held by the eyewear juggernaut.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 9 Feb. 2026
Camilla Wright, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Super Bowl 2025 ticket prices On Location has official Super Bowl tickets that are guaranteed by the NFL and are included as part of packages with options like open bars, tailgate food and pregame parties.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tailgate
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
From fall tailgates and church potlucks to Southern porches and summertime sandwiches, pimiento cheese is a beloved Southern staple.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
Toyota smoothed out some of the launch bZ4X’s quirks, which was the right call, but there are attractive details here that command attention, like the rear light bar that juts out and stands apart from the tailgate.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
Motorists are reminded not to tailgate a snowplow — leave four car-lengths between the snowplow and your vehicle — and do not pass a snowplow.
—Michelle Cruz, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Other players are tailgating on the leading position held by the eyewear juggernaut.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
International visitors and owners socialized in the car parks; tailgate style, picnicking from the back of SUVs.
—Camilla Wright, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Super Bowl 2025 ticket prices On Location has official Super Bowl tickets that are guaranteed by the NFL and are included as part of packages with options like open bars, tailgate food and pregame parties.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tailgate
Cite this Entry
“Tailgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailgate. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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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