tailgate

¹ American  

[teyl-geyt] / ˈteɪlˌgeɪt /

noun

1. the board or gate at the back of a wagon, truck, station wagon, etc., which can be removed or let down for convenience in loading or unloading.

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verb (used without object)

tailgated, tailgating

1. to follow or drive hazardously close to the rear of another vehicle.

verb (used with object)

tailgated, tailgating

1. to follow or drive hazardously close to the rear of (another vehicle).

adjective

1. pertaining to or set up on a tailgate.

   a tailgate picnic before the football game.

tailgate ² American  

[teyl-geyt] / ˈteɪlˌgeɪt /

noun

Jazz.

1. a style of playing the trombone, especially in Dixieland jazz, distinguished especially by the use of melodic counterpoint and long glissandi.

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tailgate British  

/ ˈteɪlˌɡeɪt /

noun

1. another name for tailboard

2. a door at the rear of a hatchback vehicle

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verb

1. to drive very close behind (a vehicle)

Other Word Forms

• tailgater
  noun

Etymology

Origin of tailgate¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; tail ¹ + gate ¹

Origin of tailgate²

First recorded in 1945–50; so called from the usual seat of trombonists in trucks carrying musicians during a parade

Explanation

A tailgate is the hinged opening at the back of a pickup truck. And as a verb, to tailgate is to drive too close to another vehicle. It's dangerous to tailgate, because you might crash into the car in front of you if it stops suddenly. This verb gets its name from a vehicle's tailgate. If you're too close to the tailgate of the truck in front of you, you're tailgaiting. Another informal use of tailgate is "party in the back of a truck," especially in the parking lot of a sports arena: "Let's tailgate before the big game tomorrow!"

Example Sentences

The Cadillac escutcheon at the tailgate is also the switch that opens the hatch.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

If you really want to level up your potluck game, take a cue from tailgate culture: a small portable crockpot is a marvel.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

The new rules stipulate that all doors except the tailgate "shall be equipped with a mechanical release exterior door handle".

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

They tailgate, party and eventually walk into the game.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2025

It looked like a junkyard—no, a tailgate party for a really bad demolition derby.

From "Lawn Boy Returns" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• cruise
• drag
• fly
• guide
• operate
• propel
• push
• ride
• run
• send
• speed
• spin
• start
• steer
• transport
• travel
• turn