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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of derivative
Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025
Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 28 Aug. 2025
Lucy Xiaolu Wang, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2025
Despite post-1990s laws like the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act, regulators under Alan Greenspan ignored warnings about predatory lending and derivatives.
—Steve Booren, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derivative
Adjective
Unlike the Air Force’s F-47, which uses an advanced adaptive-cycle engine for extended range, the F/A-XX will use a derivative powerplant.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025
Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
In contrast, subsequent self-citations from substantive product patents – such as those for new drug derivatives – and patents targeting different disease areas continue at roughly the same pace as before marketing authorization.
—Lucy Xiaolu Wang, The Conversation, 23 Sep. 2025
Despite post-1990s laws like the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act, regulators under Alan Greenspan ignored warnings about predatory lending and derivatives.
—Steve Booren, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derivative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derivative
Adjective
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In 2021, at Belhassen’s bidding, Beckham restrategized, consolidated her secondary collection, VVB, into the main line, and cut the average price point in half.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
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That welcome scoring reprieve may quickly come to an end versus a stout Chiefs secondary.—
KC Joyner,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Bose found a stronger mathematical derivation of Planck’s law.—
Matt von Hippel,
Quanta Magazine,
23 June 2025
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Labels want systems that can not only detect direct sample reuse but also flag stylistic derivations within generative model outputs.—
Virginie Berger,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Deutsche Börse, which runs the Frankfurt Stock Exchange from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. local time five days a week for derivates and structured products, echoed Euronext.—
Ganesh Rao,Jenni Reid,
CNBC,
22 July 2025
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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 11 Oct. 2025.
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