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 of derail

• 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

The probe ultimately exposed a cover-up effort involving top White House officials, secret payments to the burglars and attempts to use federal agencies to derail the investigation. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

About two weeks ago, a farmer in northern Missouri posted a video on Facebook about the railroad crossing where the Amtrak train derailed Monday, killing three and injuring dozens. — The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026

Local communities, including Republican strongholds in Georgia and Mississippi, voiced opposition to the projects, staging protests outside the warehouses and derailing city council meetings. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 June 2026

The 6-6 guard-forward improved as the year progressed, growing more comfortable in his first full season since knee injuries — including a 2024 ACL tear — derailed his previous two campaigns. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 June 2026

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