tailpipe

noun

tail·​pipe ˈtāl-ˌpīp How to pronounce tailpipe (audio)
: an outlet by which engine exhaust gases are expelled from a vehicle (such as an automobile or jet aircraft)

Examples of tailpipe 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.
For a decade, the EV story was about tailpipe emissions and Tesla envy. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 June 2026 Mercedes, meanwhile, had only made minor tailpipe and brake design changes on the W17. — Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 4 May 2026 The Einride EVs are projected to drive up to three million electric transport miles annually with zero-tailpipe emissions. — Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 10 June 2026 Ethanol also releases fewer nitrogen oxides—another set of tailpipe pollutants—compared with gasoline. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tailpipe

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tailpipe was in 1922

Rhymes for tailpipe

See All Rhymes for tailpipe

Browse Nearby Words

tailpin
tailpipe
tail-pipe burner
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tailpipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailpipe. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tail pipe

noun
: an outlet by which engine exhaust gases are expelled from a vehicle (as an automobile or jet aircraft)

More from Merriam-Webster on tailpipe

Nglish: Translation of tailpipe for Spanish Speakers

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