Illustration of derby
- derby 4
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
The Manchester (England) Evening News4
: a stiff felt hat with dome-shaped crown and narrow brim
Examples of derby in a Sentence
a derby between Manchester United and Manchester City
Recent Examples on the Web
The pressure on the Tyne-Wear derby is also significant, with Sunderland again profiting from Howe’s team facing a Champions League away fixture four days beforehand.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
To put that into perspective, [participants] removed roughly 25,000 lionfish during this two-day derby, and a little more than 5,000 in the pre-derby that started in February.
—Rayna O'Nan, Outdoor Life, 12 Mar. 2026
In an all-Italia derby, Bologna hosts Roma.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
With their masculine style, derbies bring a polite firmness to any ensemble.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for derby
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Chris Waugh, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
To put that into perspective, [participants] removed roughly 25,000 lionfish during this two-day derby, and a little more than 5,000 in the pre-derby that started in February.
—Rayna O'Nan, Outdoor Life, 12 Mar. 2026
In an all-Italia derby, Bologna hosts Roma.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
With their masculine style, derbies bring a polite firmness to any ensemble.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for derby
Cite this Entry
“Derby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derby. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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