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Showing results for derailment. Search instead for defailment.

derailment

American  
[dee-rayl-muhnt] / diˈreɪl mənt /

noun

  1. the act or process of derailing.

  2. Psychiatry. loosening of associations.


Etymology

Origin of derailment

1940–45; derail + -ment, or < French déraillement


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The agency has said it collected over 28,000 air samples and found no ongoing exposure in the East Palestine community from contaminants released by the derailment and subsequent cleanup.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

According to the spokesperson, the train will only be lifted off the line once the public prosecutor allows it, with investigations into the cause of the derailment still ongoing.

From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026

While no one died in the immediate aftermath of the derailment, residents allege ongoing health problems from the accident.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

In High Court documents, Network Rail claimed that the derailment occurred because the wagon had "not been maintained with reasonable care" and is seeking damages for negligence.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Chances are his train was late, because in 1984 there was a fire somewhere on the New York system every day and a derailment every other week.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

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