Derailment: meaning, definitions and examples
🚂
derailment
[diːˈreɪlmənt ]
Definition
train accident
The derailment is the unexpected and sudden off-track movement of a train, often resulting in damage to the train, tracks, and potentially causing injuries or fatalities.
Synonyms
off-track movement, train accident.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| derailment |
This term is most commonly used when a train leaves its tracks. It's a formal and technical term used in news reports and official statements about safety incidents.
|
| train accident |
This is a broader term that includes any kind of accident involving a train, not just derailments. It could be a collision, derailment, or other incidents involving trains. It's commonly used in everyday conversation and media reports.
|
| off-track movement |
This term is less specific and more general than 'derailment'. It's often used in technical or engineering contexts to describe any situation where a vehicle or machinery moves off its intended path.
|
Examples of usage
- The derailment of the train was caused by a faulty track switch.
- After the derailment, emergency services were called to the scene to assist with the injured passengers.
- The investigation into the derailment revealed a maintenance issue with the tracks.
- The derailment delayed train services for several hours.
- The derailment was a major news story, with reporters on the scene providing updates.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The term comes from the combination of 'de-' meaning 'away from' and 'rail', which refers to the tracks trains run on.
- It began to be used in English around the 19th century, coinciding with the rise of rail transport.
- Originally referring to trains, its application has broadened to describe any failure or disruption.
Transportation
- In the United States, the most frequent causes of derailments include track defects, human error, and equipment failure.
- Safety measures, including better materials for tracks and advanced technologies, have significantly reduced derailment incidents.
- Derailments can cause substantial economic losses, not only in train services but also affecting local businesses and supply chains.
Psychology
- Derailment can be used metaphorically in therapy, where it describes a sudden, unexpected disruption in a person's thoughts or behaviors.
- In cognitive behavioral therapy, helping an individual recognize and adjust 'derailed' thoughts is a key component of recovery.
- The concept of 'derailing' in conversations refers to a speaker getting side-tracked, losing focus on the main topic.
Literature
- In literature, 'derailment' can symbolize a character’s journey off their intended path, representing themes of chaos and unpredictability.
- Many authors use the metaphor of derailment to convey emotional or psychological turmoil in their characters' lives.
- The term appears in various literary analyses to describe plots that deviate significantly from their initial trajectories, leading to unexpected resolutions.
Pop Culture
- The phrase 'derailing a conversation' is commonly used in social media and memes to describe when someone changes the topic unexpectedly.
- Movies and shows often depict train derailments as dramatic events, symbolizing larger conflicts or crises within the story.
- The term has also found its way into gaming, where a player's strategy can 'derail' if they make a bad decision mid-game.
Translations
Translations of the word "derailment" in other languages:
🇵🇹 descarrilamento
🇮🇳 पटरी से उतरना
🇩🇪 Entgleisung
🇮🇩 tergelincir
🇺🇦 сходження з рейок
🇵🇱 wykolejenie
🇯🇵 脱線 (dassen)
🇫🇷 déraillement
🇪🇸 descarrilamiento
🇹🇷 raydan çıkma
🇰🇷 탈선 (talson)
🇸🇦 خروج عن السكة
🇨🇿 vykolejení
🇸🇰 vykoľajenie
🇨🇳 脱轨 (tuōguǐ)
🇸🇮 iztirjenje
🇮🇸 úrsporing
🇰🇿 рельстен шығу
🇬🇪 რელსებიდან გადაბრუნება
🇦🇿 reysdən çıxma
🇲🇽 descarrilamiento