tailcoat

noun

tail·​coat ˈtāl-ˌkōt How to pronounce tailcoat (audio)
: a coat with tails
especially : a man's full-dress coat with two long tapering skirts at the back
tailcoated
ˈtāl-ˌkō-təd How to pronounce tailcoat (audio)
adjective

Examples of tailcoat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Meanwhile, Prince William looked dapper in a white tie and Windsor tailcoat, adorned with his collection of medals and royal orders. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026 In the photos, the young royal wore his new uniform, consisting of a black tailcoat, waistcoat, white collar and pinstriped trousers. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 26 Sep. 2026 There’s an infamous photo of Prince William looking like a posh Spice Girl in a Union Jack waistcoat under his Eton tailcoat. — Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026 George, who is second in line to the British throne, arrived in a jacket, shirt and tie and dark trousers but soon changed into the school’s uniform of a black tailcoat, waistcoat and pinstriped trousers, with a stiff white collar. — Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tailcoat

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tailcoat was in 1847

Rhymes for tailcoat

See All Rhymes for tailcoat

Browse Nearby Words

tail boom
tailcoat
tailcoated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tailcoat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailcoat. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tailcoat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tailcoat

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