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 WebJames Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2024
Completing the easy-lift tailgate is an outside step for access to be bed, six tie-downs, a 400-watt power inverter and outlet and an LED Light.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 16 June 2024
Meredith G. White, The Arizona Republic, 17 June 2024
However, one of the most stressful forms of road rage may be tailgating — when another driver follows closely behind your car, leaving little room for reaction in case of a sudden stop.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2024
Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024
For your picnic, tailgate, or pool party, there are chicken bundles that include jugs of sweet tea, biscuits, and sides.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for tailgate 
Noun
The single-cab 1997 Chevrolet pickup had damage to the driver’s side front quarter panel, door and the tailgate, according to the release.
—James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2024
Completing the easy-lift tailgate is an outside step for access to be bed, six tie-downs, a 400-watt power inverter and outlet and an LED Light.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 16 June 2024
Verb
Relax on the grass, play yard games while tailgating, enjoy a carnival-style kid zone and an array of food and drinks plus beer tents for the adults.
—Meredith G. White, The Arizona Republic, 17 June 2024
However, one of the most stressful forms of road rage may be tailgating — when another driver follows closely behind your car, leaving little room for reaction in case of a sudden stop.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2024
Adjective
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued multiple recalls last week, including notices for nearly 820,000 GM Sierra and Silverado pickup trucks over a tailgate safety issue.
—Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024
For your picnic, tailgate, or pool party, there are chicken bundles that include jugs of sweet tea, biscuits, and sides.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for tailgate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tailgate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tailgate
Cite this Entry
“Tailgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailgate. Accessed 7 Jul. 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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