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 fishing 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
The ensemble featured a white asymmetric tulle skirt and a light blue bodice with an oversize ribbon at the shoulder, à la winning a derby.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
Roma won the derby against Lazio 2-0, but there were brawls between the players after each of the goals.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
Wolves 0-2 Fulham Everton vs Sunderland From the buoyant mood of a month ago, heading into a home Merseyside derby with genuine hopes of beating Liverpool to Champions League qualification, Everton are now five games without a win.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Sports fans can appreciate subtlety but there is a reason baseball hosts a home run derby and not a bunt fest, and basketball has a dunk contest in lieu of a layup line.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for derby
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Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
Roma won the derby against Lazio 2-0, but there were brawls between the players after each of the goals.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
Wolves 0-2 Fulham Everton vs Sunderland From the buoyant mood of a month ago, heading into a home Merseyside derby with genuine hopes of beating Liverpool to Champions League qualification, Everton are now five games without a win.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Sports fans can appreciate subtlety but there is a reason baseball hosts a home run derby and not a bunt fest, and basketball has a dunk contest in lieu of a layup line.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for derby
Cite this Entry
“Derby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derby. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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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