rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryderailmentTrain leaving its tracks
noun

derailment

dee-RAYL-muhnt/diːˈreɪlmənt/

A train's departure from its intended tracks.

The derailment leaves a freight car leaning beside the rails on gravel.

Small freight railcar has wheels visibly off intact rails and leans slightly onto gravel, stopped derailment without injuries or wreckage panorama, no logos.
Etymology
derailFrenchgo off the rails
+mentFrenchaction or event

Dérailler means 'go off the rails.' With an event-forming ending, it names the occurrence of a train leaving its tracks.

In context

Plainly Difficult106:21
debris hitting the ground. Metal was found embedded in car 1 and this looks suspiciously like a stripped wheel tire. Eventually, investigators managed to piece together the cause of the derailment.
Rewind Year 7 of Plainly Difficult | Youtube Omnibus

More examples

  • A broken rail caused the derailment.
  • Crews inspect the tracks after every derailment.
  • Regular track maintenance helps prevent derailments.

Forms

derailment · derailments

derail verb — To leave or force off railroad tracks.

Similar words

train wreck
Involves serious damage but does not necessarily involve leaving tracks.
train accident
Includes collisions and other incidents, not just leaving the rails.