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tailgater

1 American  
[teyl-gey-ter] / ˈteɪlˌgeɪ tər /

noun

  1. a person who drives hazardously close to the rear of another moving vehicle.

  2. a person who participates in a tailgate picnic.


tailgater 2 American  
[teyl-gey-ter] / ˈteɪlˌgeɪ tər /

noun

  1. a musician who plays trombone in tailgate style.


Etymology

Origin of tailgater1

tailgate 1 + -er 1

Origin of tailgater2

tailgate 2 + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

This might not be on the minds of the tailgater, but it’s a major concern.

From Seattle Times Oct. 9, 2023

Around 70 people breach Gate K disabled pass gate, when staff use it to eject a tailgater.

From BBC Dec. 3, 2021

“Know who my favorite tailgater was?” my daughter Rapunzel asked when it was over.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 21, 2018

Williams, another avid tailgater who hosts his own group, purchased a bus he calls “the Diesel” — pimped out with TVs inside to watch other NFL games and places to sit.

From Washington Times Nov. 22, 2017

Your suggestion to stay in the left lane until the tailgater moves to the right and goes on is good, if there isn’t another vehicle in the right lane.

From Washington Post Oct. 8, 2016

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