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
Julia Bonavita , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
There are some opaque methods for opening car tailgates, but Smart’s must be one of the most obscure.
—James Morris, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Has it?, via Nicole Nixon Gavin Newsom calls Democratic brand ‘toxic’ on Bill Maher show, via Lia Russell
Planning to tailgate at an A’s home game?
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2025
With blue cheese, bacon, chives, and a topping of crispy onions, our latest version is perfect for tailgate snacking.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2025
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
Additionally, deputies found two bloody handprints on the tailgate of Decker’s vehicle.
—Julia Bonavita , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
There are some opaque methods for opening car tailgates, but Smart’s must be one of the most obscure.
—James Morris, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Verb
For the dads out there who love to tailgate, the coolers are the perfect choice.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Has it?, via Nicole Nixon Gavin Newsom calls Democratic brand ‘toxic’ on Bill Maher show, via Lia Russell
Planning to tailgate at an A’s home game?
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
The tailgate event will expand to three days this go-around, an increase from one day last year, with activities from Friday to Sunday (May 16-18).
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2025
With blue cheese, bacon, chives, and a topping of crispy onions, our latest version is perfect for tailgate snacking.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 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 24 Jun. 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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