derivative

Sometimes der·i·vate

[dih-riv-uh-tiv]

adjective

1. derived.

2. not original; secondary.

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

/ 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

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

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of derivative¹

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

Example Sentences

The absence of those elements here makes “Hamnet” simply derivative; a loose thread, grabbed swiftly and pulled hard in the hopes that the audience will be undone.

Read more on Salon

The construct of volatility derivative was teetering on the brink of severe bearishness a week ago.

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Amid rising attention around prediction markets and online gambling, the stock trading app Robinhood Markets jumped back into the spotlight by unveiling a futures and derivatives exchange joint venture with Susquehanna International Group.

Read more on Barron's

CME Group is one of the world’s largest derivatives marketplaces, operating exchanges including the New York Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, and the Commodity Exchange, also known as Comex.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The world’s biggest operator of derivatives exchanges, the CME also runs the New York Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade.

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Related Words

• by-product