tailpipe

American  

[teyl-pahyp] / ˈteɪlˌpaɪp /

Or tail pipe

noun

1. an exhaust pipe located at the rear of a motor vehicle or aircraft powered by an internal-combustion engine.

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tailpipe British  

/ ˈteɪlˌpaɪp /

noun

1. a pipe from which the exhaust gases from an internal-combustion engine are discharged, esp the terminal pipe of the exhaust system of a motor vehicle

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Etymology

Origin of tailpipe

1880–85, in sense, “suction pipe of a pump”; 1905–10 for current sense; tail ¹ + pipe ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tailpipe

SAF still produces tailpipe emissions when it is burned to power planes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 23, 2026

There are no tailpipe emissions, and electric lorries also draw their power increasingly from renewable sources of energy.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2025

That’s largely because for more than 50 years, California has been granted unique authority from the EPA to set stricter tailpipe emissions than those mandated by the federal government.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2025

Fifty years ago, California asked for — and received — EPA waivers allowing it to set stricter tailpipe emissions than those mandated by the federal government.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2025

Trey says he needs money for a new tailpipe.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas