tailwind

noun

tail·​wind ˈtāl-ˌwind 

plural tailwinds

1

: a wind having the same general direction as a course of movement (as of an aircraft)

2

: a force or influence that advances progress toward an improved condition

… the strengthening housing market should be providing tailwinds for home improvement retailers.

—Katherine Peralta

Medicare reform is a thorny problem even when the political tailwinds are favorable.

—Russ Wiles

Examples of tailwind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is going to be a nice tailwind. —David Moin, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025

The hosts talk about the tailwinds for the league right now. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 2 Oct. 2025

Fed rate cuts can lead to lower savings rates and borrowing costs, encouraging consumer spending, investing and business activity, providing a sustained tailwind for stocks. —John Towfighi, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025

Buoyed by policy tailwinds, the Golden State has an even greater incentive to do the same. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tailwind

• chagrined
• crosswind
• downwind
• rescind
• upwind
• whirlwind
• woodwind
• finned
• ginned
• grinned
• pinned
• sinned

Kids Definition

tail wind

noun

: a wind having the same general direction as the course of a moving object (as an aircraft)