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derivative Synonyms

Another word for derivative

Choosing another word for derivative depends on context, so the 21 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• noun (Context 1)

Something that is based on or developed from another source, such as a word formed from an earlier root or a chemical compound produced from another substance.

Usage Example

"Aspirin is a synthetic chemical by-product of salicylic acid, which occurs naturally in willow bark."

Strong
by-product
offshoot
spin-off
adaptation
variant
outgrowth
Weak
descendant

• adjective (Context 2)

Imitative of the work of another person, artist, or style, and therefore disapproved of for lacking originality.

Usage Example

"Critics dismissed the novel as a unoriginal imitation of classic science fiction."

Strongest
unoriginal
imitative
Strong
secondhand
copied
plagiarized
uninspired
hackneyed
Weak
cliched
trite

• noun (Context 3)

In calculus, an expression representing the instantaneous rate of change of a mathematical function with respect to an independent variable.

Usage Example

"Students learned how to calculate the first differential of a function to find the slope of its tangent line."

Strong
differential

• adjective (Context 4)

Originating from, based on, or traceable to another source.

Usage Example

"Corporate legal structures often create derived rights for minority shareholders."

Strongest
derived
Strong
secondary
ancillary
Weak
subordinate

Opposites of derivative

The opposite of derivative shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

antiderivative
integral
original
primary
innovative
groundbreaking
source
inventive
See all opposites of derivative

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Derivative. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/derivative
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