Tailgate is an American English word denoting the door or 'gate' at the back of a wagon, pickup truck, SUV or other similar type of vehicle that is hinged at the bottom and can be opened for the convenience in loading cargo into the rear of the vehicle. A similar vehicular feature, the hatch, hatchback or liftgate, is a door at the back of a vehicle that is hinged at the top and opens upward. In modern usage, the word tailgate may refer to a true tailgate, a hatchback or a lateral opening door (hinged on the left or right side) in the back of a pickup truck, wagon or SUV.

In British English, the tailgate, sometimes called the hatch, is a door on the back of a vehicle that can be moved either up or down, such as on a pickup truck or hatchback.

Tailgates can also be furnished with additional accessories like a "Pocket" for storage purposes etc.

The following terms were derived from the noun tailgate:

• Driving closely behind another vehicle
  The verb to tailgate refers to the practice of driving closely behind the rear fender of a preceding vehicle.
• Entering an area without authorization verification
  The term also refers to closely following someone, such as through a door or gate, where individual passes maybe required, also known as "piggybacking".
• Tailgate party
  The term tailgate party refers to the practice of engaging in a social drinking and/or eating event that is based out of the back of one's truck, wagon or SUV.

See also

• 3-way tailgate