Tailgate is an American English wor denoting the door or 'gate' at the back of a wagon, pickup truck, SUV or other similar type of vehicle that is hinged at the bottom and can be opened for the convenience in loading cargo into the rear of the vehicle. A similar vehicular feature, the hatch, hatchback or liftgate, is a door at the back of a vehicle that is hinged at the top and opens upward. In modern usage, the word tailgate may refer to a true tailgate, a hatchback or a lateral opening door (hinged on the left or right side) in the back of a pickup truck, wagon or SUV.