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

Delaying or denying publication of pending papers could derail a researcher’s career. —Lisa Song, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026

Last year, the legendary singer’s health scare derailed his tour and forced him off the stage. —Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026

The island’s legislature is considering a record defense outlay, but domestic political rivalries threaten to derail that effort. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 24 Mar. 2026

For travelers like Richardson, that uncertainty is enough to derail plans entirely. —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 23 Mar. 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