derivative
Americanadjective
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not original; secondary.
noun
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something that has been derived.
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Also called derived form. Grammar. a form that has undergone derivation from another, as atomic from atom.
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Chemistry. a substance or compound obtained from, or regarded as derived from, another substance or compound.
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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.
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a financial contract whose value derives from the value of underlying stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, etc.
adjective
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resulting from derivation; derived
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based on or making use of other sources; not original or primary
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copied from others, esp slavishly; plagiaristic
noun
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a term, idea, etc, that is based on or derived from another in the same class
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a word derived from another word
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chem a compound that is formed from, or can be regarded as formed from, a structurally related compound
chloroform is a derivative of methane
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maths
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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
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the rate of change of one quantity with respect to another
velocity is the derivative of distance with respect to time
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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
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psychoanal an activity that represents the expression of hidden impulses and desires by channelling them into socially acceptable forms
Other Word Forms
- derivatively adverb
- derivativeness noun
- nonderivative adjective
- nonderivatively adverb
- underivative adjective
- underivatively adverb
Etymology
Origin of derivative
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English derivatif, from Late Latin dērīvātīvus, equivalent to Latin dērīvāt(us) ( derivation ) + -īvus suffix; -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was asked by liana Bouzali, Morgan Stanley’s global head of derivatives, distribution and structuring, how he would construct a hedge-fund portfolio from scratch today.
From MarketWatch
Many airlines shield themselves from volatility in the price of fuel, which makes up a large part of their operational costs, by hedging it, usually using financial derivatives to try to spread their risk.
From MarketWatch
The construct of volatility derivatives got a little “worried” last week but has returned to a fully bullish outlook for stocks.
From MarketWatch
There is potentially leverage at the investor level through the use of derivatives and other mechanisms.
From MarketWatch
Gen AI, in particular, will move from a co-pilot to an operating system for finance — engaging with stocks, fixed income, derivatives and other assets.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
