as in secondary
taken or created from something original or basic
a derivative style taken from earlier painters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in derivation
something that naturally develops or is developed from something else
the whole field of industrial robots is a derivative of technology developed for the space program
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Recent Examples of derivative
Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
That’s not to say the English actor’s feature directing debut is derivative or doesn’t reveal his own voice.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Jessica Kasparian, Allure, 21 May 2025
John Marshall, head of Goldman Sachs’ derivatives research team, said in a note to clients Thursday that Wall Street is poised for the largest notional value for May options expirations on record.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for derivative
Adjective
The illusion of creativity increased while the outcome became more derivative.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
That’s not to say the English actor’s feature directing debut is derivative or doesn’t reveal his own voice.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Noun
Ro Custom Rx is one of the best ways to get a prescription retinoid over the counter because its primary ingredient is tretinoin—a vitamin A derivative that requires a prescription.
—Jessica Kasparian, Allure, 21 May 2025
John Marshall, head of Goldman Sachs’ derivatives research team, said in a note to clients Thursday that Wall Street is poised for the largest notional value for May options expirations on record.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for derivative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derivative
Adjective
-
At the time of the acquisition, some of the whiskey had already been moved into secondary casks after 14 years in bourbon barrels, specifically muscat and sauternes.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
8 June 2025
-
With the addition of Eagle Rare 12, the brand adds a new anchor point—a bottle with enough complexity for connoisseurs but a price tag that won’t send you into a bidding war on the secondary market (for now).—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
A lot of his derivations in Principia were purely geometrical.—
Steven Strogatz,
Quanta Magazine,
15 May 2025
-
Look for people dressed as Jab Jab, the Grenadian devil-like figure (its name is a derivation of diable or devil in French).—
Mark Ellwood,
AFAR Media,
26 May 2025
Noun
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Coinbase bought a crypto derivates exchange, Deribit, for $2.9 billion .—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
16 May 2025
-
With unique enough lore and a unique style, Saxon avoids making a derivate fable.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derivative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derivative. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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