adj
Uncommon
derivative
dih-RIH-vuh-tihv
Derivative (adj) means copying or imitating someone else's work rather than being original. Example: “Critics dismissed the album as derivative of much better bands.”
adj
1
Copying or imitating someone else's work rather than being original.
"Critics dismissed the album as derivative of much better bands."
"The story felt derivative, as if it borrowed every idea from older books."
"Her early paintings were derivative, copying the style of her teacher."
noun
1
A financial contract whose value is based on an underlying asset, such as a stock or commodity.
"The bank lost millions trading complex derivatives."
"Experts warned that a derivative can lose value very quickly when markets change."
"The fund manager explained how a derivative is linked to the price of oil."
2
In mathematics, a measure of how a function's output changes as its input changes; the rate of change or slope.
"Students learn to calculate the derivative of a function in calculus class."
"If the derivative is zero, the curve is flat at that point."
"The teacher showed us how the derivative tells us the slope of a graph."
How to use derivative
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething based on, or copied from, something else — used for unoriginal work, financial products, and rates of change in maths.
When to use it
As an adjective describing creative work, it's usually a criticism, implying lack of originality.
Common pairings
derivative work
financial derivative
take the derivative
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like derivative.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- derivatives
- Comparative
- more derivative
- Superlative
- most derivative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Critics dismissed the album as _____ of much better bands.
Etymology
From Latin derivatus, past participle of derivare, "to derive"; related to derive.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
coincidental
antonym(s) of
Related words
Rhymes for derivative
See all rhymes for derivative →Frequently asked questions
What does “derivative” mean?
The word “derivative” means copying or imitating someone else's work rather than being original. In plain terms, something based on, or copied from, something else — used for unoriginal work, financial products, and rates of change in maths.
How do you pronounce “derivative”?
“Derivative” is pronounced dih-RIH-vuh-tihv (/dɪˈɹɪvətɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “derivative” in a sentence?
Here is “derivative” used in a sentence: “Critics dismissed the album as derivative of much better bands.”
What is another word for “derivative”?
Words with a similar meaning to “derivative” include derivate, derived word, contingent claim and derived function.
What is the opposite of “derivative”?
The opposite of “derivative” — its antonyms — are coincidental and antonym(s) of.
What part of speech is “derivative”?
Depending on how it is used, “derivative” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “derivative” come from?
The word “derivative” comes from Latin. From Latin derivatus, past participle of derivare, "to derive"; related to derive.
Is “derivative” a common word?
“Derivative” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a derivative and a stock?
A derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on an underlying asset, such as a stock or commodity, rather than being the asset itself, while a stock represents direct ownership in a company. This means a derivative's price moves according to changes in the underlying asset's value without the holder owning that asset outright.
Why is calling something derivative often an insult in art or music criticism?</q>
When derivative describes creative work, it means the work copies or imitates someone else's style rather than being original, which is generally seen as a criticism in art, music, and writing. Critics use it to suggest a lack of genuine creativity or innovation.
What does derivative mean in mathematics?
In mathematics, a derivative measures how a function's output changes as its input changes, essentially representing the rate of change or slope of the function at a given point. This concept is fundamental to calculus and is used to analyze motion, growth, and other changing quantities.
How is derivative used differently as an adjective versus a noun?
As an adjective, derivative describes something unoriginal that copies existing work, as in "a derivative sequel." As a noun, it refers either to a financial contract based on an underlying asset or to a mathematical measure of a function's rate of change, so context determines which meaning applies.
