# derail vs detain

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### derail
*noun · IPA /ˌdəˈɹeɪ.əl/ · frequency rank #26,059*
Synonym of derailer: A device placed on railway tracks in order to cause a train to derail.

### detain
*verb · IPA /dɪˈteɪn/ · frequency rank #22,056*
To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derail-vs-detain