Dictionary
1piggyback
adverb pig·gy·back \ˈpi-gē-ˌbak\
Definition of PIGGYBACK
1
: up on the back and shoulders
2
: on or as if on the back of another; especially : on a railroad flatcar
See piggyback defined for kids
Variants of PIGGYBACK
pig·gy·back also pick·a·back \ˈpi-gē-, ˈpi-kə-\
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of PIGGYBACK
alteration of earlier a pick pack, of unknown origin
First Known Use: 1565
Rhymes with PIGGYBACK
almanac, amberjack, anorak, antiblack, applejack, Arawak, Aurillac, back-to-back, bivouac, black-on-black, brainiac, bric-a-brac, Cadillac, camelback, canvasback, cardiac, carryback, celiac, cornerback, Cousin Jack, crackerjack, cul-de-sac, diamondback, fiddleback, Gay-Lussac, gunnysack, hackmatack, haversack, high-low-jack, huckaback, hydrocrack, iliac, ipecac, Kodiak, ladder-back, leatherback, lumberjack, maniac, medevac, Merrimack, mommy track, multipack, nunatak, Nunivak, off-the-rack, paperback, Pasternak, quarterback, razorback, retropack, running back, sandarac, Sarawak, silverback, single-track, snapper-back, steeplejack, stickleback, Syriac, tamarack, theriac, tokamak, turtleback, umiak, Unimak, zodiac
2piggyback
noun
: the act of carrying someone on your back or shoulders
Full Definition of PIGGYBACK
1
: the act of carrying piggyback
2
: the movement of loaded truck trailers on railroad flatcars
See piggyback defined for English-language learners
Variants of PIGGYBACK
piggyback also pickaback
First Known Use of PIGGYBACK
circa 1590
3piggyback
adjective
Definition of PIGGYBACK
1
: marked by being up on the shoulders and back <a child needs hugging, tussling, and piggyback rides — Benjamin Spock>
2
: carried or transported piggyback: as a : of or relating to the hauling of truck trailers on railroad flatcars b : being or relating to something carried into space as an extra load by a vehicle (as a spacecraft)
See piggyback defined for kids
Variants of PIGGYBACK
piggyback also pickaback
First Known Use of PIGGYBACK
1823
4piggyback
verb
: to be carried by or connected to something else or to cause (something) to be carried by or connected to something else
Full Definition of PIGGYBACK
transitive verb
1
: to carry up on the shoulders and back
2
: to haul (as a truck trailer) by railroad car
3
: to set up or cause to function in conjunction with something larger, more important, or already in existence or operation
intransitive verb
: to function or be carried on or as if on the back of another
See piggyback defined for English-language learners
Variants of PIGGYBACK
piggyback also pickaback
First Known Use of PIGGYBACK
1952
PIGGYBACK Defined for Kids
piggyback
adverb or adjective pig·gy·back \ˈpi-gē-ˌbak\
Definition of PIGGYBACK for Kids
: on the back or shoulders <The child wanted a piggyback ride.>
Learn More About PIGGYBACK
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: piggyback plantPrevious Word in the Dictionary: piggyAll Words Near: piggyback
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up piggyback? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).