# tailgate

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈteɪlˌɡeɪt/ · frequency rank #28,398

## Definitions
1. A hinged board or hatch at the rear of a vehicle that can be lowered for loading and unloading.
2. The hinged rear door of a hatchback.
3. The downstream gate in the lock on a canal or river, or in an irrigation system.
4. Ellipsis of tailgate party.
5. A tunnel for drawing spent air away from the working face of a mine.

## Etymology
From tail + gate. Compare liftgate.

## Common misspellings (11)
`atilgate`, `taiglate`, `tailagte`, `tailgaet`, `tailgatte`, `tailggate`, `tailgtae`, `taillgate`, `taligate`, `tialgate`, `ttailgate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tailgate