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)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Thomas Kunish, 40, likened it to a tailgate party. Grace Hauck, USA TODAY, 6 Nov. 2020 To get everyone in the Super Bowl spirit, the tailgate party offers activities, games, giveaways, live entertainment and photo opportunities. Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 9 Feb. 2023 The ultimate tailgate party is also scheduled that day which includes skiers and riders packing up their grills for a day of parking lot chillin and grillin with some big prizes for the categories of best presentation, recipes and most original tailgate display. Roger Sands, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2022 Tickets for the tailgate party can be purchased on the Holiday Bowl’s website. San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Dec. 2022 One doesn’t have to be attending Saturday’s game to take part in the tailgate party, Furse said. Stefene Russell, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 Later that morning, Walker was inside his tour bus at an empty tailgate party outside the SEC championship game, waiting for the rain to stop. Jazmine Ulloa, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Dec. 2022 Going to see Jack was like going to see a fraternity brother at a tailgate party. Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2022 Section 26, a fan-run collective that supports RSL, is set to hold its 13th annual homebrew tailgate party, in the parking lot north of America First Field (formerly Rio Tinto Stadium), at 9256 S. State St., Sandy. Stefene Russell, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tailgate party.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tailgate party was in 1958

Dictionary Entries Near tailgate party

Cite this Entry

“Tailgate party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailgate%20party. Accessed 6 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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