derives

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "derives" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the origin or source of something, often in a context related to ideas, concepts, or words. Example: "The term 'biomimicry' derives from the study of nature and its models."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In fact, this figure originally derives from World Health Organisation and Unicef estimates, some dating back to the 1990s, from "sources of variable quality", about the prevalence of the practice in various African countries.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many philanthropic organisations have already divested from fossil fuels, including the Rockefeller Brothers Fund whose wealth derives from Standard Oil, which went on to become ExxonMobil.

The Guardian

The union derives its legitimacy not from being a continent-wide democracy.

The Guardian - Opinion

The erotic frisson of Christian Grey removing Anastasia's tampon derives not merely from the fact that, faced with her menstruation, Christian proceeds with his erotic education of young Anastasia; it's that he removes her tampon himself and then boinks her against the vanity.

The Guardian - Opinion

Russia, which derives half its budget revenue from oil and gas, is already struggling with a collapse in the value of the rouble and an economy fast moving into recession.

The Guardian - Business

BAE Systems, which makes fighter jets and submarines, now derives over half its turnover from after-sales service.

The Economist

One, published in 2012 by James Stock of Harvard University (now a council member) and Mark Watson of Princeton University, derives America's potential growth rate from the long-term average of variables such as employment and productivity.

The Economist

Portugal Telecom derives 46% of its revenues from the fast-growing Brazilian unit and its future growth depends on it.

The Economist

Mr Obama now has a strategy; indeed, Mr Cameron helped the president build support for it during the recent NATO summit in Wales.The second worry derives from the wounding defeat the government suffered in the House of Commons last summer when it lost a vote to approve air strikes on Syria after President Bashar Assad's regime used chemical weapons.

The Economist

The ayatollah has strongly condemned the shooting, but he derives much of his power from the right and is unwilling to alienate his supporters.Even were the constitution to be revised, many doubt whether Mr Khatami would go all out for profound change.

The Economist

The book derives some authority from the authors' original research and benefits from the hours they spent sifting through the attics of descendants of other expedition members for personal diaries and photographs that were never part of the official record.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "derives", ensure that the subject clearly indicates what is being sourced or obtained from the origin you are specifying.

Common error

Avoid using "derives from of". The correct form is "derives from". For example, say "The word derives from Latin" not "The word derives from of Latin".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "derives" functions as a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense of the verb "derive". Ludwig's examples show that it's primarily used to indicate the origin or source of something, whether it's a word, concept, or resource.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

31%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "derives" is a versatile verb used to indicate the origin or source of something. As shown by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly found in formal writing, news reports, and academic discussions. While alternatives like "originates from" or "stems from" exist, "derives" is particularly useful when highlighting a direct or traceable relationship. Common mistakes include incorrect preposition usage, such as "derives from of", which should be avoided. Ludwig's examples and analysis confirm that "derives" is a reliable and effective choice for expressing the source or etymology of a subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

originates from

Emphasizes the point of commencement or creation.

arises from

Focuses on the emergence or appearance of something from a specific cause or situation.

stems from

Highlights the root or cause from which something emerges.

is sourced from

Focuses on the origin or provider of materials or information.

is born out of

Suggests that something emerges as a result of particular conditions or circumstances.

is obtained from

Highlights that the information is gathered.

is a consequence of

Highlights the resulting or subsequent nature of an effect from a cause.

is traced back to

Focuses on discovering the historical origin.

is extracted from

Highlights that specific elements from materials or text are obtained.

is predicated on

Emphasizes that something's existence or validity relies on another factor.

FAQs

How to use "derives" in a sentence?

Use "derives" to indicate the origin or source of something. For instance, "The word 'algorithm' "derives from" the name of the Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi".

What can I say instead of "derives"?

You can use alternatives like "originates from", "stems from", or "is sourced from" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "derives from of"?

No, "derives from of" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is ""derives from"".

What's the difference between "derives from" and "comes from"?

"Derives from" often implies a more formal or technical relationship of origin, while "comes from" is more general and can refer to any source or origin.