derived
Americanadjective
-
received, obtained, or arising from a particular source or in a particular way.
The relationship between the root word and the derived form is often metaphorical.
With ingredients that are 100% naturally derived, we can proudly say our lotion is vegan, cruelty-free, and ecofriendly.
-
dependent on or generated by something more basic; secondary.
The demand for a piece of capital equipment is a derived demand, as it stems directly from the demand for whatever it helps to produce.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of derived
Explanation
When something is derived from something else, it is made from that. Ham is derived from pork, and the active ingredient in aspirin is derived from the bark of the willow tree. It's best to use derived when you can still see the parts of the original in something. Some people believe baseball was derived from the game of cricket. Both games involve batting and runners, but cricket was around first. Derived is also the past tense of the verb, derive, which can mean to figure out or get. After six tries, Lucia derived the answer to the difficult math problem.
Vocabulary lists containing derived
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act II
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Derived from the countywide homeless database, it includes every veteran who has been identified by outreach workers and verified as veterans, eliminating some who falsely claim veteran status.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2025
Derived from nutrition data from nearly 5,000 Americans, NCS sores are linked to blood pressure, waist circumference and weight.
From Salon • Dec. 30, 2024
Derived from the Italian word for trust, these rings depicting two clasping hands were commonly used in ancient Rome, typically as a wedding ring or symbol of faithful love.
From National Geographic • Jan. 11, 2024
Derived from the Latin word senex, which means 'old and 'old man', the Senate has always been home to some of the country's most elder statesmen and women.
From BBC • Nov. 19, 2023
Derived from the Teutons, the Franks continued the gyratio, and Clovis, Sigebert, Pippin and others were thus elevated to the royal estate.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 4 "Coquelin" to "Costume" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
