derby

noun

der·​by ˈdər-bē 

especially British ˈdä-

plural derbies

1

: any of several horse races held annually and usually restricted to three-year-olds

2

: a race or contest open to all comers or to a specified category of contestants

a fishing derby

3

British : a game between local sports teams

… even when both clubs were going through trophy droughts, the derby was still treated like a European Cup final by the fans.

—The Manchester (England) Evening News

4

: a stiff felt hat with dome-shaped crown and narrow brim

Illustration of derby

• derby 4

Examples of derby in a Sentence

a derby between Manchester United and Manchester City

Recent Examples on the Web

The football scene there peaked in popularity during the 1970s and 1980s, although the derby between the country’s two most successful sides, Africa Sports National and ASEC Mimosas, both from Abidjan, still generates significant interest. —Tom Burrows, New York Times, 5 June 2026

In a tone-deaf move by the Sox marketing department, José Canseco was invited to participate in a home run derby featuring former Sox players July 11 at Rate Field. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026

Any suggestions on what this home run derby should look like? —Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026

The Maye Family Foundation donated an additional $1,000 for every ball hit over the fence at Sunday’s home run derby. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Edward Stanley †1834, 12th earl of Derby

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing derby

• demolition derby

Rhymes for derby

• kirby

Kids Definition

derby

noun

der·​by ˈdər-bē 

especially British ˈdär-

plural derbies

1

: a horse race usually for three-year-olds held annually

2

: a race or contest open to all comers

a fishing derby

3

: a stiff felt hat with dome-shaped top and narrow brim

Etymology

named for Edward Stanley, 12th earl of Derby (a county and town in England)

Word Origin

The first horse race called a Derby was named after an English nobleman named Edward Stanley, the Earl of Derby (1752–1834). The Earl instituted the race in 1780, and it continues to be run to the present day on the first Wednesday in June at Epsom Downs, a racetrack south of London. The name Derby has become attached to other races usually restricted to three-year-old horses, such as the Kentucky Derby. It is used as well of races that have nothing to do with horses, such as the Pinewood Derby run by the Cub Scouts. In the 1800s derby was also the name given in the U.S. to a dome-shaped hat called a bowler in England. The reason why the hat was given this name is uncertain, and nothing seems to link it with horse races.

Geographical Definition

Derby

geographical name

Der·​by ˈdär-bē 

chiefly U.S. ˈdər-

city on the Derwent River in Derbyshire, north central England population 252,000