derivative

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /dɪˈrɪvətɪv/ UK /dɪˈrɪvətɪv/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
imitative of others' work; a thing based on another source

Critics found the novel derivative and unoriginal.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · imitative of others' work;... imitative unoriginal secondary derived copiedplagiaristic

Opposites

original novel innovative primary

Word family

Forms derivativelyderivativeness

Derived forms derivativelyderivativeness

Related forms derive derivation derivable

Etymology

From Late Latin derivativus, from Latin derivatus, past participle of derivare ('to lead or draw off'), from de- ('away') plus rivus ('stream, brook').

derivare Latin rivus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# derivative

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈrɪvətɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈrɪvətɪv/

## Meanings
1. imitative of others' work; a thing based on another source

## Examples
- Critics found the novel derivative and unoriginal.

## Synonyms
- imitative
- unoriginal
- secondary
- derived
- copied
- plagiaristic

## Antonyms
- original
- novel
- innovative
- primary

## Derived Forms
- derivatively
- derivativeness

## Related Forms
- derive
- derivation
- derivable

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: derivare
- Root: rivus

## Etymology
From Late Latin derivativus, from Latin derivatus, past participle of derivare ('to lead or draw off'), from de- ('away') plus rivus ('stream, brook').

## AI Etymology
Derivative comes from Late Latin derivativus, from Latin derivatus, past participle of derivare ('to lead or draw off'), from de- ('away') plus rivus ('stream, brook'). The historical trail runs through Latin derivare and Latin rivus. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means imitative of others' work; a thing based on another source. Derived formations include derivatively, derivativeness; related forms include derive, derivation, derivable.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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