derivative

American  

[dih-riv-uh-tiv] / dɪˈrɪv ə tɪv /

Sometimes derivate

adjective

1. derived.

2. not original; secondary.

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noun

• derivatives
  plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• derivatives
  plural

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Etymology

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

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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

See Examples For:

derivative derivatives

A 27-year-old named Kelley Dennison running to represent Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, for example, has posted Groyper-style memes, including one of her as the Groyper mascot, a derivative of Pepe the Frog.

From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2026

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have uncovered a surprising role for a vitamin A derivative in the development of human vision.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

These songs were used to create "unlicensed derivative works", Authentic Brands says.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

Anthropic’s actions allow users to create derivative songs without paying the copyright holders, the lawsuit says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026

OBS.—The heart is accounted the seat of bravery: hence, the derivative sense of courage.

From New Word-Analysis by William Swinton

Certain derivatives of phenanthridinone are toxic to cells and have already been incorporated into anticancer drugs.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026

They’re turning to options and credit-default swaps, while trading firms are developing new derivatives tied to the price of computing power.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

And anyone who has the means to affect important elections can make far more money trading in traditional securities or derivatives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

Buying CDS protection “remains our preferred way of playing the AI story in the credit derivatives market,” a Morgan Stanley team wrote in an Oct.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

NOTE.—In derivatives through the French, super- takes the form sur-, as sur-vey, to look over.

From New Word-Analysis by William Swinton

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