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

The new tariffs threaten to buck a strong tailwind for in-person sporting attendance. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 3 Apr. 2025

The company caught a tailwind from fiscal third-quarter results that surpassed consensus estimates, per StreetAccount. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025

If the tax cuts get extended during the second quarter, that would be a tailwind for the markets. —Nyse, Quartz, 1 Apr. 2025

Looking ahead, Roman sees major tailwinds for crypto adoption, including regulatory improvements, growing acceptance of stablecoins for global transactions and even political support. —Christer Holloman, Forbes, 25 Mar. 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)