# derail

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌdəˈɹeɪ.əl/ · frequency rank #26,059

## Definitions
1. Synonym of derailer: A device placed on railway tracks in order to cause a train to derail.
2. An instance of diverting a conversation or debate from its original topic.

## Etymology
From French dérailler (“to go off the rails”). Analyzable as de- + rail.

## Easily confused with
- **devil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derail-vs-devil)
- **drain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derail-vs-drain)
- **Desai** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derail-vs-desai)
- **detail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derail-vs-detail)
- **detain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derail-vs-detain)
- **dermal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derail-vs-dermal)
- **details** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derail-vs-details)
- **derailed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derail-vs-derailed)
- **deal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deal-vs-derail)
- **decal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decal-vs-derail)
- **DePaul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/depaul-vs-derail)

## Common misspellings (8)
`dderail`, `dearil`, `deraill`, `derali`, `derial`, `derrail`, `dreail`, `edrail`

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