derivative

American  

[dih-riv-uh-tiv] / dɪˈrɪv ə tɪv /

Sometimes derivate

adjective

1. derived.

2. not original; secondary.

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noun

1. something that has been derived.

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

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

4. especially British, differential coefficient.  Also called differential quotient.  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.

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

derivative British  

/ dɪˈrɪvətɪv /

adjective

1. resulting from derivation; derived

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

3. copied from others, esp slavishly; plagiaristic

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noun

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

2. a word derived from another word

3. chem a compound that is formed from, or can be regarded as formed from, a structurally related compound

   chloroform is a derivative of methane

4. maths

   1. 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 xn is nxn–1

   2. the rate of change of one quantity with respect to another

      velocity is the derivative of distance with respect to time

5. 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

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

derivative Scientific  

/ dĭ-rĭv′ə-tĭv /

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• derivatively adverb
• derivativeness noun
• nonderivative adjective
• nonderivatively adverb
• underivative adjective
• underivatively adverb

Etymology

Origin of derivative

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

Explanation

Alert: shifting parts of speech! As a noun, a derivative is kind of financial agreement or deal. As an adjective, though, derivative describes something that borrows heavily from something else that came before it. In grammar and linguistics, a word that is formed from another word is called a derivative. For example, the word courageous is a derivative of the word courage. In economics, derivatives are deals based on the outcome of other deals. A movie plot might be described as derivative if it steals from another film — say, if it lifts the tornado, the witch, and the dancing scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz.

Example Sentences

Because the timing of labor market displacement is so uncertain, Muddy Waters recommends using derivative exposure to take a bearish view on corporate credit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The 25% tariff would apply to the entire value of a finished product—known derivative products—containing steel and aluminum, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Paul Grewal: Prediction markets are a type of derivative contract and derivatives have been regulated by the federal government going on many, many decades now.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

That may sound too derivative for some, but Sokolov, known for his outlandish Russian-language action-comedies “Why Don’t You Just Die!” and “No Looking Back,” brings a truly wacky sensibility to his first English-language feature.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

L’Hôpital’s rule states that the value of the fraction was equal to the derivative of the top expression divided by the derivative of the bottom expression.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Related Words

• by-product