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Definition of trailer

trailer

/ˈtreɪ.lɚ/
trai · ler

Plural:trailers
•
Past Simple:trailered
•
Past Participle:trailered
•
Present Participle:trailering
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trailer Lexical Profile

trailer Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A short promotional video or series of excerpts for an upcoming film, television show, or video game.

Example

"The studio released a thrilling two-minute trailer for the highly anticipated science fiction movie."


2

An unpowered vehicle pulled by a car, truck, or tractor, used for transporting goods or serving as a mobile living space.

Example

"They hitched a small utility trailer to the back of their SUV to haul the landscaping supplies."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To transport something, such as a boat, horse, or vehicle, using a towed trailer.

Example

"We trailered the boat to the lake for the long weekend."


2

To advertise an upcoming film, broadcast, or event by showing promotional excerpts.

Example

"The network heavily trailered the new drama series during prime time programming."

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for trailer

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the verb 'trail' combined with the agent suffix '-er'. Originally referring to someone or something that follows behind, it gained its modern vehicular sense in the late 19th century and its cinematic sense in the 1920s, as promotional clips were originally shown trailing (after) the main feature film.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Trailer. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/trailer
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