Illustration of derby
- derby 4
plural derbies
1
: any of several horse races held annually and usually restricted to three-year-olds
2
: a race or contest open to all comers or to a specified category of contestants
a bicycle derby
3
British
: a game between local sports teams
… even when both clubs were going through trophy droughts, the derby was still treated like a European Cup final by the fans.—
The Manchester (England) Evening News
The Manchester (England) Evening News4
: a stiff felt hat with dome-shaped crown and narrow brim
Examples of derby in a Sentence
a derby between Manchester United and Manchester City
Recent Examples on the Web
Since the derby, Rashford has not been in the squad and Garnacho has only started three of United’s nine games.
—Charlotte Harpur, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Potter lost three and won just two of his eight London derbies at Chelsea, against Crystal Palace and both by a single goal.
—Liam Tharme, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Alonso was the National League rookie of the year in 2019 and is a four-time All-Star and two-time home run derby champion.
—Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 9 Jan. 2025
Less than a month after signing, Elliott ran with the first team in OTA availabilities and was one of 10 players that participated in the team’s annual charity home run derby.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for derby 
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Charlotte Harpur, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Potter lost three and won just two of his eight London derbies at Chelsea, against Crystal Palace and both by a single goal.
—Liam Tharme, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Alonso was the National League rookie of the year in 2019 and is a four-time All-Star and two-time home run derby champion.
—Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 9 Jan. 2025
Less than a month after signing, Elliott ran with the first team in OTA availabilities and was one of 10 players that participated in the team’s annual charity home run derby.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for derby
Dictionary Entries Near derby
Cite this Entry
“Derby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derby. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
derby
noun
der·by
ˈdər-bē 
especially British ˈdär-
plural derbies
1
: a horse race usually for three-year-olds held annually
2
: a race or contest open to all comers
a fishing derby
3
: a stiff felt hat with dome-shaped top and narrow brim
Etymology
named for Edward Stanley, 12th earl of Derby (a county and town in England)
Word Origin
The first horse race called a Derby was named after an English nobleman named Edward Stanley, the Earl of Derby (1752–1834). The Earl instituted the race in 1780, and it continues to be run to the present day on the first Wednesday in June at Epsom Downs, a racetrack south of London. The name Derby has become attached to other races usually restricted to three-year-old horses, such as the Kentucky Derby. It is used as well of races that have nothing to do with horses, such as the Pinewood Derby run by the Cub Scouts. In the 1800s derby was also the name given in the U.S. to a dome-shaped hat called a bowler in England. The reason why the hat was given this name is uncertain, and nothing seems to link it with horse races.
Geographical Definition
Derby
geographical name
Der·by
ˈdär-bē
chiefly U.S. ˈdər-
city on the Derwent River in Derbyshire, north central England population 252,000
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