Derivation: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in a technical or academic context to refer to the process of obtaining something from a source or the origin of a word or concept.

• The derivation of this formula is quite complex.
• Linguists often study the derivation of words to understand how languages evolve.

Used to describe the beginning or source of something, often in a historical or geographical sense.

• The origin of the river can be traced to the mountains.
• He is researching the origin of ancient civilizations.

Refers to the place or thing from which something comes, arises, or is obtained. It is commonly used in both everyday language and technical contexts.

• She cited her sources in the bibliography.
• The river's source is in the nearby mountains.

Commonly used to indicate the fundamental basis or underlying cause of something. It can also refer to the basic form of a word in linguistics.

• To solve the problem, we need to address its root causes.
• The root of the word 'bicycle' is 'cycle', which means 'circle'.

Used mostly in linguistics and mathematics. In linguistics, it refers to the development of a word from its root form. In mathematics, it signifies deriving a new formula or result from known facts.

• The derivation of the word 'electricity' can be traced back to the Latin word 'electricus'.
• The derivation of this equation took several steps.

Use 'derivation' when discussing how something is developed or evolved from something else, often used in mathematical or linguistic contexts.

• The derivation of this formula took several hours
• The linguist explained the derivation of the word 'student' from Latin

Use 'deduction' when talking about the process of reaching a conclusion based on general principles or known facts. This term is common in logical reasoning, science, and detective work.

• Sherlock Holmes is famous for his powers of deduction
• From these premises, we can make a deduction about the outcome

Use 'inference' when referring to the process of drawing a conclusion from evidence or reasoning. It is less formal than 'deduction' and used in everyday situations.

• Based on the footprints, I made the inference that someone had been here recently
• The data allow us to make an inference about customer behavior