Synonyms

tails

American

[teylz] / teɪlz /

adjective

(of a coin) with the reverse facing up.

On the next toss, the coin came up tails.

noun

tailcoat.

tails British

/ teɪlz /

plural noun

an informal name for tail coat

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

interjection

with the reverse side of a coin uppermost: used as a call before tossing a coin Compare heads

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tails

First recorded in 1675–85; tail ¹ + -s 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.

The international team of researchers were able to piece together the separate odysseys from photos of the whales' tails -- including some taken by amateur photographers on cruises -- captured decades apart.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

Researchers think the animals may have used their long necks and tails to help release heat and regulate body temperature.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2026

Galapagos tortoises are trained to step onto scales, for example, the lions and tigers to present their tails so blood tests and skin samples can be taken.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Tech stocks are operating against a “heads I win, tails I win” backdrop, said Garrett Melson, portfolio strategist at Natixis Investment Managers Solutions.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 26, 2026

The man spoke again to the wolves and the animals crowded around him, whining and wagging their tails.

From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023