I. de ‧ riv ‧ a ‧ tive 1 AC /dɪˈrɪvətɪv/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ derive ; noun : ↑ derivative ]
1 . something that has developed or been produced from something else
derivative of
Heroin is a derivative of morphine.
2 . a type of financial ↑ investment :
the derivatives market
II. derivative 2 BrE AmE adjective
not new or invented, but copied or taken from something else – used to show disapproval:
a derivative text