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
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 Speaker: A quiet tailgate is no fun!
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2025
Josh Patterson, Outside Online, 9 May 2025
Fans arrived as early as 6:30 a.m. to tailgate during last year’s final game at the Oakland Coliseum.
—Mathew Miranda, 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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Noun
New stars such as Zach Bryan and Lainey Wilson have been drawing droves not just to stream songs, but to sell out their tour dates and tailgate in the parking lot.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 Speaker: A quiet tailgate is no fun!
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
From hitch racks to tailgate pads, here are the best bike transport options for every type of rider.
—Josh Patterson, Outside Online, 9 May 2025
Fans arrived as early as 6:30 a.m. to tailgate during last year’s final game at the Oakland Coliseum.
—Mathew Miranda, 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 21 May. 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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