Origin: Latin suffix -ive
Derivative has 7 different meanings across 2 categories:
the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx
"The derivative represents the instantaneous rate at which a function's value changes as its input varies."
a compound obtained from, or regarded as derived from, another compound
"The new drug is considered a derivative of an older antibiotic because it was chemically synthesized by modifying its molecular structure."
a financial instrument whose value is based on another security
"The trader bought a call option, which is a derivative whose value depends entirely on the price of the underlying stock."
(linguistics) a word that is derived from another word
"`electricity' is a derivative of `electric'"
Something derived.
"The new song was clearly just a derivative copy of the famous old hit."
resulting from or employing derivation
"a derivative process"
"a highly derivative prose style"
Obtained by derivation; not radical, original, or fundamental.
"The new novel was criticized as being a derivative work that lacked any original ideas of its own."
In plain English: Something that is derivative copies ideas from other sources instead of creating something original on its own.
"The movie was a derivative remake that added nothing new to the original story."
Usage: Use derivative to describe something that has been copied from an existing source rather than created originally. This term often distinguishes secondary works like sequels or adaptations from their primary inspirations.
The word "derivative" comes from the Middle French dérivatif, which was borrowed from the Latin dērīvātus. Its original meaning relates to the act of deriving or drawing something from a source.