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
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
The Ridgeline’s signatures are its quiet ride, confident handling, two-way tailgate and a substantial and lockable in-bed trunk.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2024
Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
More specific details will be announced later this month, including plans for merchandise sales, road closures and tailgating outside Lucas Oil Stadium.
—Alysa Guffey, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Oct. 2024
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
Cooler is an absolute must-have for any tailgate or outdoor activity this fall.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tailgate 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
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Noun
These gussied-up tea sandwiches are worthy of a Grove tailgate (or one at Grandpa’s house).
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
The Ridgeline’s signatures are its quiet ride, confident handling, two-way tailgate and a substantial and lockable in-bed trunk.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2024
Verb
Five hours before the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers kicked off, Joe Valdivia, who had driven from southern California, tailgated outside Gate C of Levi’s Stadium.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
More specific details will be announced later this month, including plans for merchandise sales, road closures and tailgating outside Lucas Oil Stadium.
—Alysa Guffey, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Oct. 2024
Adjective
With blue cheese, bacon, chives, and a topping of crispy onions, our latest version is perfect for tailgate snacking.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
Cooler is an absolute must-have for any tailgate or outdoor activity this fall.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tailgate
Dictionary Entries Near tailgate
Cite this Entry
“Tailgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailgate. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.
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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