derailment

[dee-reyl-muh nt]

noun

the act or process of derailing.
Psychiatry. loosening of associations.

Origin of derailment

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for derailment

Contemporary Examples of derailment

In contrast, the derailment of talks would be welcomed by some of the loudest proponents of rushing to legislate new sanctions.
Why Now is Not the Time for New Sanctions on Iran
Dylan Williams
November 5, 2013
Security-camera footage capturing the derailment, which can be viewed here is pretty horrifying.
Men’s Terminal Velocity: Why the Deadly Need for Speed?
William O’Connor
July 27, 2013

Historical Examples of derailment

Here we were detained some time by a derailment of an engine in front.
Hesperothen; Notes from the West, Vol. II (of 2)
W. H. Russell
It is better to take a chance on a derailment than on a collision.
Letters from an Old Railway Official
Charles DeLano Hine
This prevents wear and tear and grinding and derailment on curves.
The Invention of the Track Circuit
American Railway Association
They had been walking on down the line, looking for the actual point of derailment.
The Taming of Red Butte Western
Francis Lynde
It was surging and bounding alarmingly over the uneven track, not without threatenings of derailment.
Empire Builders
Francis Lynde

Word Origin and History for derailment

n.

1850, from French déraillement, from dérailler "to go off the rails" (see derail).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper