What does "derivation" mean?
A leading or drawing off of water from a stream or source.
Derivation
/ˌdɛ.ɹɪˈveɪ.ʃ(ə)n/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A leading or drawing off of water from a stream or source.
- Grammar: derivation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: acceptance, accidence, acquisition, adjective formation.
- Useful contrasts: assumption, guessing, root word.
- Usage evidence: Esperanto has an excellent derivation system.
How to use "derivation"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "derivation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "derivation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "derivation" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "derivation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A leading or drawing off of water from a stream or source. countable, uncountable
- 2 the act of deriving something or obtaining something from a source or origin wordnet
- 3 The act of receiving anything from a source; the act of procuring an effect from a cause, means, or condition, as profits from capital, conclusions or opinions from evidence. countable, uncountable
- 4 drawing off water from its main channel as for irrigation wordnet
- 5 The act of tracing origin or descent; an instance thereof (for example, an etymology). countable, uncountable
"the derivation of a word from an Indo-European root"
Show 16 more definitions
- 6 drawing of fluid or inflammation away from a diseased part of the body wordnet
- 7 Forming a new word by changing the base of another word or by adding affixes to it. countable, uncountable
- 8 inherited properties shared with others of your bloodline wordnet
- 9 The state or method of being derived; the relation of origin when established or asserted. countable, uncountable
- 10 a line of reasoning that shows how a conclusion follows logically from accepted propositions wordnet
- 11 That from which a thing is derived. countable, uncountable
- 12 (historical linguistics) an explanation of the historical origins of a word or phrase wordnet
- 13 That which is derived; a derivative; the result of a deduction. countable, uncountable
- 14 the source or origin from which something derives (i.e. comes or issues) wordnet
- 15 The process of deriving one thing from another, especially in logic; a deduction. countable, uncountable
- 16 (descriptive linguistics) the process whereby new words are formed from existing words or bases by affixation wordnet
- 17 The process of deriving one thing from another, especially in logic; a deduction.; A formal proof: a sequence of statements, each of which is logically entailed by those preceding (with respect to some collection of rules of inference), the initial statements being taken as axioms. countable, uncountable
- 18 The process of application of the derivative operator to a function, yielding another function called the derived function of the first. countable, uncountable
- 19 An algebraic generalization of the derivative operator (from its natural setting in the ring of real-valued functions) to a general associative algebra over a field. Formally, (given an algebra A over a field K) a K-linear endomorphism that satisfies Leibnitz's Law. countable, uncountable
- 20 An algebraic generalization of the derivative operator (from its natural setting in the ring of real-valued functions) to a general associative algebra over a field. Formally, (given an algebra A over a field K) a K-linear endomorphism that satisfies Leibnitz's Law.; Any of several generalizations of this notion: a Hasse–Schmidt derivation, a graded derivation, etc. countable, uncountable
- 21 A drawing of humors or fluids from one part of the body to another, to relieve or lessen a morbid process. countable, historical, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Esperanto has an excellent derivation system."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "derivation"?
Common synonyms include: acceptance, accidence, acquisition, adjective formation, admission, admittance.
How do you use "derivation" in a sentence?
Esperanto has an excellent derivation system.
How do you pronounce "derivation"?
Pronounced /ˌdɛ.ɹɪˈveɪ.ʃ(ə)n/.
Etymology
From Middle English derivacioun, borrowed from Middle French dérivation, from Latin dērīvātiō, dērīvātiōnem. Morphologically derive + -ation.