Derivative
/dɪˈrɪvətɪv/
adjectivenounC1
Definition
As an adjective, derivative describes something that is made or developed from another thing and is not new or original. As a noun, it refers to a thing or idea that comes from or is based on something else. It often has a negative meaning, suggesting lack of creativity or originality.
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See It in Action
(Adjective) Not original; copied or developed from something else
- •The movie was criticized for being derivative of older films.
- •His music style is derivative and lacks creativity.
- •That design looks derivative because it copies many elements from a famous brand.
(Noun) Something that is based on or comes from another source
- •Many modern songs are derivatives of older hits.
- •The book is a derivative of a popular movie.
- •Financial derivatives are contracts whose value comes from other assets.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "derivative" like "copy," but more formal and used for ideas, art, or products, not just simple copying
- ✓Picture a painting that looks very similar to a famous artwork but with small changes
- ✓It's the feeling when you see a movie that reminds you too much of another movie you already know
- ✓Sounds like "de-RIVE-ative" → imagine a small river (rive) flowing out from a big river, showing it comes from something bigger
- ✓Think of a student who writes an essay mostly using ideas from a book instead of their own thoughts
- ✓NOT like "original" (new, first), derivative means it comes from something else, not created first
- ✓NOT like "unique" (one of a kind), derivative means it is similar or copied from another
- ✓NOT like "inspired" (made with some new ideas), derivative can mean just copying without adding much new
Try Other Words
- •Unoriginal: not new or creative (Use when emphasizing lack of new ideas)
- •Imitative: copying style or ideas (Use when focusing on copying style rather than exact content)
- •Based on: developed from something else (Use in neutral contexts without negative meaning)
- •Derived: taken or developed from a source (Use in formal or technical contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "de-" (from, down) + "rive" (root related to "derive") + "-ative" (adjective suffix meaning "related to")
- •Etymology: From Latin "derivare," meaning to draw off or take from a source
- •Historical development: Originally used in English from the 1600s to mean something drawn or taken from another source
- •Modern usage: Used in many fields like art, literature, music, and finance to mean something based on or copied from something else
Reflect & Connect
•How can you tell if an idea or work is derivative or original in your own experience?
•Can something be derivative but still valuable or interesting? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.The movie was called derivative because it ___ many ideas ___ older films.
2.When an artist creates a derivative work, they often ___ from an original source ___ adding new elements.
3.A derivative product usually lacks ___ and feels very similar ___ something that came before.
4.In finance, a derivative is a contract whose value depends ___ another asset's price.
5.People often criticize books as derivative when they ___ too closely ___ popular stories.
6.The music sounded derivative, ___ it used the same rhythms and melodies ___ famous songs.
7.A work can be derivative but still appreciated if it ___ something new ___ the original idea.