What does tagalong mean?
A tagalong is someone who accompanies another person, usually without having been explicitly invited. The word is informal and commonly describes a friend, relative, or companion who comes along on an outing, journey, or activity. It can suggest mild imposition or joining at the last moment, although it does not necessarily express disapproval. A tagalong may simply be included because the person does not want to be left behind, while others use the word humorously for a habitual companion. In conversation, phrases such as “invite a tagalong” and “come along as a tagalong” show that the term is associated with social participation and informal plans. It is more conversational than words such as “companion” or “follower,” and it often implies a lack of prior arrangement.
nounAn informal term for a person who accompanies another person or group, usually without a specific invitation or arrangement. It can also refer to someone who joins an activity or journey at the last minute.
- A person who accompanies another person or group, especially without having been formally invited.
- A person who joins an activity, journey, or event at the last minute.
"Her younger brother was always a tagalong on family outings."
"We took my sister to the concert, but she brought a tagalong."
"The event was small, though a few tagalongs joined us at the end of the evening."
The plural is formed by adding -s.
"They brought several tagalongs to the game."
Being an uninvited tagalong is easy; becoming the person everyone wants to bring along is a different achievement.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tagalong come from?
The word combines “tag,” meaning to attach oneself to or follow someone, with “along,” meaning in company or in the direction of another person. It developed through the informal expression “tag along,” with the compound noun later serving to identify the person who does the tagging.
How tagalong is actually used
Informal and mainly used in everyday speech. It often carries the mild implication that the person is joining without a clear invitation, but it is not necessarily negative.