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 WebSymiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2024
About a dozen people had showed up to a tailgate Monday night, when the White Sox won 8-4.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
Dana Afana, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sep. 2024
The full-width LED taillights now reside on a split tailgate offering a lower section that can used as a seat or table when tailgating.
—Karl Brauer, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2024
Even more versatile, the fabric black-out panels over the windows and door panels feature a Velcro-style hook-and-loop attachment system that was used to hold a spice rack, storage pouches and even a tailgate hatchet.
—New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tailgate 
Noun
With surrounding views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Blacksburg also hosts some of the most picturesque tailgates, so don’t miss an opportunity to join in the festivities and celebrate game day with fellow Hokies.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2024
About a dozen people had showed up to a tailgate Monday night, when the White Sox won 8-4.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
Verb
Crowds gathered Sunday to tailgate at Eastern Market for the Detroit Lions game until two were shot from gunfire that erupted after a fight between two men at Shed 6 of the outdoor market.
—Dana Afana, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sep. 2024
The full-width LED taillights now reside on a split tailgate offering a lower section that can used as a seat or table when tailgating.
—Karl Brauer, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
Adjective
Get The Recipe 11 of 20 Grove-Worthy Pimiento Cheese Sandwiches
There's no need to be in Oxford to enjoy these tailgate top picks.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2024
Even more versatile, the fabric black-out panels over the windows and door panels feature a Velcro-style hook-and-loop attachment system that was used to hold a spice rack, storage pouches and even a tailgate hatchet.
—New Atlas, 20 Sep. 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 1 Oct. 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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