Etymology

Middle English from French dérivatif and Latin derivatus. See derive.

Adjective

derivative

1. Imitative of someone else's work
2. (Copyright Law): Referring to a work, such as a translation or adaptation, based on another work that may be subject to copyright restrictions
3. Having a value that depends on an underlying asset of variable value
4. Lacking originality

Noun

derivative

1. Something based on another source
2. A word that derives from another one.
3. A financial instrument whose value depends on the value of something else, such as warrants, options etc.
4. A chemical derived from another
5. (mathematics) The function whose value is the instantaneous rate of change of the given function.

   The derivative of Failed to parse (PNG conversion failed; check for correct installation of latex, dvips, gs, and convert): f(x) = x^2

is Failed to parse (PNG conversion failed; check for correct installation of latex, dvips, gs, and convert): f'(x) = 2x

Translations

• Dutch: afgeleide f (1), afleiding f (2)
• German: Ableitung f (5)
• Polish: derywat m (1, 2), pochodna f (3, 4)
• Spanish: derivativo m (1-4), derivada f (5)