derivative

[ dih-riv-uh-tiv ]

/ dɪˈrɪv ə tɪv /

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See synonyms for: derivative / derivatives on Thesaurus.com

adjective

derived.

not original; secondary.

noun

something that has been derived.

Also called derived form .Grammar. a form that has undergone derivation from another, as atomic from atom.

Chemistry. a substance or compound obtained from, or regarded as derived from, another substance or compound.

Also called differential quotient; especially British, differential coefficient .Mathematics. the limit of the ratio of the increment of a function to the increment of a variable in it, as the latter tends to 0; the instantaneous change of one quantity with respect to another, as velocity, which is the instantaneous change of distance with respect to time.Compare first derivative, second derivative.

a financial contract whose value derives from the value of underlying stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, etc.

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Sometimes der·i·vate

[der-uh-veyt] /ˈdɛr əˌveɪt/ .

Origin of derivative

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English derivatif, from Late Latin dērīvātīvus, equivalent to Latin dērīvāt(us) (see derivation) + -īvus suffix; see -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM derivative

de·riv·a·tive·ly, adverbde·riv·a·tive·ness, nounnon·de·riv·a·tive, adjective, nounnon·de·riv·a·tive·ly, adverb

un·de·riv·a·tive, adjectiveun·de·riv·a·tive·ly, adverb

Words nearby derivative

derision, derisive, derisory, deriv., derivation, derivative, derive, derived, derived curve, derived fossil, derived unit

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use derivative in a sentence

Roni Israelov, the President of investment firm Ndvr and the author of several academic papers on derivatives, says 2020 has brought a big uptick in options contracts for individual stocks.
‘Going to Vegas:’ Newbie options traders face a reckoning as the tech stock rally fades|Jeff|September 14, 2020|Fortune
Indeed, Randy Frederick, Charles Schwab’s vice president of trading and derivatives, argues the latest tech correction can largely be chalked up to, “without a doubt, the fact that things had gotten very, very expensive.”
Where do tech stocks go from here?|Anne Sraders|September 10, 2020|Fortune
The Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and Zero Hedge reported that SoftBank was making massive bets on technology stocks using equity derivatives.
SoftBank stock slides after it’s unmasked as ‘Nasdaq whale’|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 7, 2020|Fortune
The FT later reported that SoftBank is sitting on trading gains of about $4 billion from founder Masayoshi Son’s bets on equity derivatives, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.
SoftBank stock slides after it’s unmasked as ‘Nasdaq whale’|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 7, 2020|Fortune

These are derivative contracts that an investor, usually an insurance company, can buy as a way of further hedging their risks from natural disasters.
Insurers are getting nervous as Hurricane Laura is set to make landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm|Jeremy Kahn|August 26, 2020|Fortune
These movies follow a number of those derivative action movie prescriptions.
Young Adult Novel Adaptations Put Mainstream Blockbusters to Shame|Amy Zimmerman|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the morphine derivative is the most addictive drug in its class.
Hallucinating Away a Heroin Addiction|Abby Haglage|May 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of course these are derivative, too, almost as though Serra were his own pupil, or a forger of his own pieces.
Iron Man XVII|Blake Gopnik|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The new idea of making the said Dorito shell spicier and adding a splash of lime is derivative at best.
Is America Out of Ideas?|Daniel Gross|August 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Some of those owners are outside your country, so you don't even get derivative benefits.
Rogoff and Reinhart Respond|Megan McArdle|April 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Those who hold that the species were the basis of the ancient Modes or harmoniai must regard the keys as derivative.
The Modes of Ancient Greek Music|David Binning Monro
The derivative law in this case depends not solely on laws, but on a collocation; and collocations cannot be reduced to any law.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
In the example in question, we know the causes on which the derivative uniformity depends.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
Some are ultimate properties, others derivative; of some, no cause can be assigned, but others are manifestly dependent on causes.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
It is a derivative word, from Algonkin, and gan the penultimate syllable of the Odjibwa term Sa-g--gan, a lake.
The Indian in his Wigwam|Henry R. Schoolcraft

British Dictionary definitions for derivative

derivative

/ (dɪˈrɪvətɪv) /

adjective

resulting from derivation; derived

based on or making use of other sources; not original or primary

copied from others, esp slavishly; plagiaristic

noun

a term, idea, etc, that is based on or derived from another in the same class

a word derived from another word

chem a compound that is formed from, or can be regarded as formed from, a structurally related compoundchloroform is a derivative of methane

maths

Also called: differential coefficient, first derivative the change of a function, f(x), with respect to an infinitesimally small change in the independent variable, x; the limit of [f(a + Δ x)–f(a)] / Δ x, at x = a, as the increment, Δ x, tends to 0. Symbols: df(x)/d x, f′(x), Df(x)the derivative of x n is nx n–1
the rate of change of one quantity with respect to anothervelocity is the derivative of distance with respect to time

finance a financial instrument, such as a futures contract or option, the price of which is largely determined by the commodity, currency, share price, interest rate, etc, to which it is linked

psychoanal an activity that represents the expression of hidden impulses and desires by channelling them into socially acceptable forms

Derived forms of derivative

derivatively, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for derivative

derivative

[ dĭ-rĭv′ə-tĭv ]

In calculus, the slope of the tangent line to a curve at a particular point on the curve. Since a curve represents a function, its derivative can also be thought of as the rate of change of the corresponding function at the given point. Derivatives are computed using differentiation.

derivative

Origin of derivative

OTHER WORDS FROM derivative

Words nearby derivative

Words related to derivative

How to use derivative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for derivative

Derived forms of derivative

Scientific definitions for derivative