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Definition of derailleur

derailleur

/dɪˈreɪlər/
de · rail · leur
Plural:derailleurs
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derailleur Lexical Profile

derailleur Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A mechanical gear-shifting device on a bicycle that changes the gear ratio by moving the drive chain from one sprocket or chainring to another of a different size.

Example

"Before climbing the steep mountain pass, the cyclist adjusted the rear derailleur to ensure smooth shifting into the lowest gear."

• Rhymes for derailleur

• Nearby Words

der
derail
derailer
derailleur
derailment
derange
deranged

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 1930s from French dérailleur, literally meaning "derailer" (from dérailler, "to derail"), referring to how the mechanism shifts the bicycle chain off one sprocket and onto another.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Derailleur. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/derailleur
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