pig·gy·back
ˈpi-gē-ˌbak 
1
: up on the back and shoulders
2
: on or as if on the back of another
especially
: on a railroad flatcar
variants
or less commonly pickaback
1
: the act of carrying piggyback
2
: the movement of loaded truck trailers on railroad flatcars
variants
or less commonly pickaback
1
: marked by being up on the shoulders and back
a child needs hugging, tussling, and piggyback rides—
Benjamin Spock
Benjamin Spock2
: carried or transported piggyback: such 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 (such as a spacecraft)
variants
or less commonly pickaback
piggybacked also pickabacked; piggybacking also pickabacking; piggybacks also pickabacks
1
: to carry up on the shoulders and back
2
: to haul (something, such 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
: to function or be carried on or as if on the back of another
Did you know?
Piggyback was first used in the 16th century as an adverb, meaning "up on the back and shoulders" (as in "the child was carried piggyback"). It comes from a phrase of unknown origin, a pick pack. There is also the less-common adverb pickaback. The verb piggyback didn't piggyback on the adverb until the 19th century.
Examples of piggyback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2024
Over the years, the railroad filled in acreage to the east, creating room for rail yards, river and lake boat transfer stations, train sheds and, finally, piggyback trucking facilities.
—Andrew Johnston, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2024
Lindsey Konkel, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2010
Mark Hamill also celebrated his Star Wars costar's birthday on Sunday by re-posting their infamous piggyback picture.
—Glenn Garner, PEOPLE.com, 10 Apr. 2022
Orval C. Johnson, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2024
Of course, this brings us to Whitney piggybacking and talking about Lisa, who, despite being loud, can hurt people in silence.
—Sarah Hagi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for piggyback 
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Noun
This was afforded by what's known as a piggyback mortgage, or an 80/20 mortgage system, where the first mortgage accounted for 80% of the debt and the second absorbed the leftover 20%.
—Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2024
Over the years, the railroad filled in acreage to the east, creating room for rail yards, river and lake boat transfer stations, train sheds and, finally, piggyback trucking facilities.
—Andrew Johnston, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2024
Adjective
Trials in mice showed that this piggyback approach increased the ability of the immune system to recognize the toxin.
—Lindsey Konkel, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2010
Mark Hamill also celebrated his Star Wars costar's birthday on Sunday by re-posting their infamous piggyback picture.
—Glenn Garner, PEOPLE.com, 10 Apr. 2022
Verb
By that time, the seas were subsiding and the Coast Guard boat had succeeded in bringing the remaining three skiffs safely across the bar by piggybacking them in one at a time, first taking off their people and then towing them astern on a short line so the small boats rode in the lifeboat’s wake.
—Orval C. Johnson, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2024
Of course, this brings us to Whitney piggybacking and talking about Lisa, who, despite being loud, can hurt people in silence.
—Sarah Hagi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for piggyback
Dictionary Entries Near piggyback
Cite this Entry
“Piggyback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piggyback. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
piggyback
1 of 2 adverb or adjective
pig·gy·back
ˈpig-ē-ˌbak
variants
also pickaback
ˈpig-ē-ˌbak
ˈpik-ə-
1
: on the back or shoulders
2
: on a railroad flatcar
piggyback
2 of 2 noun
: the act of carrying piggyback
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