tailback

/ˈteɪlˌbæk/

//ˈteɪlˌbæk// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"tailback" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“tailback” is an uncommon English word, ranked #66,332 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#66,332
frequency rank, English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A line of motor vehicles causing or the result of traffic congestion or a traffic jam.

Key facts for tailback
PropertyValue
Headwordtailback
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈteɪlˌbæk/
Letters8
Frequency rank#66,332
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “tailback” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). tailback lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for tailback is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈteɪlˌbæk/. Corpus data places it at rank #66,332 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for tailback in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From tail + back. The correct English form is tailback, spelled T-A-I-L-B-A-C-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    A line of motor vehicles causing or the result of traffic congestion or a traffic jam.
  2. 2
    A running back or halfback who lines up furthest to the rear in an I formation.

Etymology

From tail + back.

This word in other languages

embouteillage(Français)Stau(Deutsch)fila(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "tailback"?
"tailback" is spelled T-A-I-L-B-A-C-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈteɪlˌbæk/.
What does "tailback" mean?
As a noun, "tailback" means: A line of motor vehicles causing or the result of traffic congestion or a traffic jam.
How do you pronounce "tailback"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "tailback" is /ˈteɪlˌbæk/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "tailback"?
From tail + back. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “tailback”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is T-A-I-L-B-A-C-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈteɪlˌbæk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list