What does derivative mean?
Word: Derivative
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Derivative means a word or thing that has been made from another one; as an adjective, copying the ideas of others rather than being new.
Synonyms: offshoot, by-product, spin-off
Antonyms: original
How do you spell derivative?
Syllables: de - riv - a - tive
Tricky part: The vowel after v is a, not i, so derivitive is the usual slip. There is one r.
Watch out for: derivitive, derevative, derrivative
Memory tip: Let the a stand for another: a derivative comes from another word or thing, so an a goes after the v.
Derivative in a sentence
Example 1: Kindness is a derivative of kind.
Example 2: Cheese is a milk derivative popular all over the world.
Example 3: The critics called the new song derivative and dull.
Fun Fact
In mathematics a derivative measures how fast something changes; the idea was developed by Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz in the 17th century.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the correctly spelt word:
1. abreviation 2. sufix 3. derivative 4. pronounciation
a) a short form of a longer word
b) a word formed from another word
c) letters added at the end of a word
d) the way a word is said
Show answer
b) a word formed from another word. Sufix needs another f, abreviation is a b short, and pronounciation has a stray o; derivative is correct.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
d_rivat_ve
a) i, i
b) a, i
c) e, e
d) e, i
Show answer
d) e, i. The word starts with de, and an i comes between the t and the v at the end.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Petrol is a ieviartevd of crude oil, made from it in a refinery.
a) decorative
b) defective
c) digestive
d) derivative
Show answer
d) derivative. Decorative needs a c and an o, defective an f and a c, and digestive a g and an s, so the letters spell derivative.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word derivative as used in the sentence:
Critics found the new film derivative, as it borrowed most of its ideas from an older hit.
a) colourful
b) thrilling
c) unoriginal
d) expensive
Show answer
c) unoriginal. A film that borrows its ideas is unoriginal, which is what derivative means here.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. National, nationality and nationwide are all derivatives of ____.
a) nature
b) native
c) notion
d) nation
Show answer
d) nation
2. Cheese is a milk derivative. Which of these is a derivative of sugarcane?
a) butter
b) yoghurt
c) molasses
d) cream
Show answer
c) molasses
