derived

1 of 2

adjective

de·​rived di-ˈrīvd How to pronounce derived (audio)
dē-
Synonyms of derivednext
biology
: being, possessing, or marked by a character (such as the large brain in humans) not present in the ancestral form
derived features

derived

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of derive

Examples of derived in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
When an agent retrieves a record for a specific task, that task context should be attached as metadata to any derived output, so a downstream agent or process inherits the same access constraint rather than starting from a clean slate. — Gopichand Mannava, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), retinoids are vitamin A–derived ingredients used in skincare to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, uneven texture and acne. — Allison Palmer updated February 25, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026 Saucedo’s father was born in Texas, and the woman is a derived citizen. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025 At the end of this year, the European Union will require that imports of seven commodities and some derived products come from places that were not deforested or degraded. — Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for derived

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see derive

First Known Use

Adjective

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of derived was in 1969

Rhymes for derived

See All Rhymes for derived

Browse Nearby Words

derive
derived
derived curve
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Derived.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derived. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on derived

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for derived

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of conscientious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All