tailgate party

noun

US

: a social gathering in which food and drinks are served at or near the back end of a parked vehicle (such as a pickup truck) that usually occurs in a parking lot before or after a public event (such as a football game or concert)

Examples of tailgate party in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cheesy Rosemary and Pecan Snack Mix This extra cheesy snack mix is sure to be a hit at any tailgate party. — Jasmine Thompson, Midwest Living, 20 Aug. 2026

Not our opaque constitutional amendments or our Craftsman architecture but our Costcos, our Waffle Houses, our tailgate parties with portable hibachi grills. — Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2026

Across the tailgate party, Amir Skenderovic donned his country’s blue and yellow proudly. — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

But this is a pretty sweet tailgate party accessory and most Amazon reviews are surprisingly decent. — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 25 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tailgate party

• arty
• carty
• hearty
• parti
• astarte
• mccarty
• nonparty
• counterparty
• multiparty