Derailment Meaning in English
word
Definition
A derailment is when a train comes off its tracks. It can also mean a plan or process goes badly off course or fails suddenly.
Usage & Nuances
'Derailment' is mainly used for trains, but is also common in figurative speech for plans or projects that go wrong. Formal in both uses. Collocates with 'train', 'project', 'negotiations'. Do not confuse with 'delay' or 'accident' more generally.
Example Sentences
The train's derailment caused delays for many passengers.
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No one was injured in the derailment.
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The derailment was investigated by police.
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After the financial crisis, the company suffered a major derailment in its plans.
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Nobody saw the derailment coming—it was completely unexpected.
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Talks about the merger hit a derailment after new issues were discovered.
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