plural piggybacks
: the act of carrying someone on your back or shoulders
Her father gave her a piggyback. = Her father gave her a piggyback ride. [=her father carried her on his back]
piggybacks; piggybacked; piggybacking
: to be carried by or connected to something else or to cause (something) to be carried by or connected to something else
—usually used figuratively
Other companies are trying to piggyback on our success. [=trying to use our success to help themselves]
The legislation is being piggybacked on another bill. [=is being added to another bill so that they will both be passed together]
Cite this Entry
“Piggyback.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/piggyback. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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