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

Swaps are derivative contracts where the parties exchange payments or risked based on something else. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Prediction markets are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a federal agency that oversees derivative markets, among other areas. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

What is really putting a lot of pressure on the markets right now are derivatives and refined products. — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026 Deutsch notes that the city’s financial system is built around tools to enable hedging one’s bets, such as the derivatives, futures, and options traded at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. — Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for derivative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for derivative

Adjective

Mohamud also warned of a possible secondary collapse, as the collapsed building was leaning on its neighbor.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Members of the Chiefs’ secondary, especially cornerbacks Nohl Williams and Mansoor Delane, are having solid seasons.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 23 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of derivative

adjective

noun

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