noun
derby
DAH-bee
noun
1
A sports match between two rival local teams.
"Tickets for the derby against their city rivals sold out in minutes."
2
A famous annual horse race, or by extension any major organized race.
"The horse was a long shot going into the derby."
3
A rounded felt hat with a stiff brim, called a bowler hat in British English.
"He wore an old derby hat to the vintage car show."
How to Use Derby
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big rivalry match, a famous horse race, or (in American English) a type of hat.
UK vs US
In the US, "derby" (the hat) is what the British call a "bowler hat".
Common pairings
local derby
Kentucky Derby
derby hat
Word Forms
derbies plural, Derbys plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “derby”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Tickets for the _____ against their city rivals sold out in minutes.
Etymology
Named after the Epsom Derby horse race, itself named for Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby.