Main Entry:

de·rail

Pronunciation:

\di-ˈrāl, dē-\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

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

Date:

1850

transitive verb1: to cause to run off the rails2 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

— de·rail·ment \-mənt\ noun