derail

verb

de·​rail di-ˈrāl 

dē-

derailed; derailing; derails

transitive verb

1

: to cause to run off the rails

2

a

: to obstruct the progress of : frustrate

security problems derailed the tour

b

: to upset the stability or composure of

divorce … can seriously derail an employee

—Joanne Gordon

intransitive verb

: to leave the rails

derailment

di-ˈrāl-mənt 

dē-

noun

Synonyms

• distract
• disturb
• bother
• worry
• alarm
• concern
• unsettle
• agitate
• anger

Examples of derail in a Sentence

The train derailed in heavy snow.

The train was derailed by heavy snow.

Recent Examples on the Web

Too abrupt a transition would derail progress, leave people behind and cost millions of lives. —Peter Sands, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025

Either way, flushed, fried skin can derail your plans and make everything from dressing to sleeping feel miserable. —Korin Miller, SELF, 7 July 2025

The Commanders have expressed concerns that the delays could derail their goal of opening a new stadium by 2030 and jeopardize their bid to host matches during the 2031 Federation Internationale de Football Association Women’s World Cup. —Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2025

Delays completely derailed the opening day of the 31st annual event, which returned to the Superdome in New Orleans this past weekend. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

French dérailler to throw off the track, from dé- de- + rail, from English

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for derail

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• detail
• dovetail
• email
• entail

Kids Definition

derail

verb

de·​rail di-ˈrā(ə)l 

: to cause to run off the rails

a train derailed by heavy snow

derailment

-mənt 

noun