DERIVATIVE Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

derivative 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of derivative

as in secondary

taken or created from something original or basic a derivative style taken from earlier painters

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derivative

2 of 2

noun

di-ˈri-və-tiv

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of derivative

Adjective

The best solution, their letter said, would be to avoid imposing tariffs on semiconductors and derivative products entirely. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026 OpenAI stopped all training and inference related to that model, as well as its derivative models, on July 25. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

Noun

The leaves and flowers of the plant are particularly rich in kaempferol and its derivatives. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026 In its filing, the league writes that the commission has 543 employees and their responsibilities include a range of derivatives beyond event contracts. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for derivative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for derivative

Adjective

Goliath features a waist restraint but has no over-the-shoulder harness like some other roller coasters –– a secondary restraint Avery believes should be considered.

— Isa Mudannayake, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
So, that Miami Hurricanes secondary that looked to be getting closer to full strength?

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of secondary

Noun

Language itself was an obsession, with many family dinners ending with Davis pulling out his unabridged Oxford English Dictionary to share the derivation of a word.

— Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Many forms of divination have been practiced historically in Africa, but divination techniques found in Hoodoo have sometimes been of European derivation; for instance, Hoodoo frequently employs cartomancy, or divination using playing cards.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of derivation

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derivations

derivative

derivatives

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“Derivative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derivative. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of derivative

adjective

noun

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