derive

/dɪˈɹaɪv/

//dɪˈɹaɪv// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"derive" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“derive” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #14,737 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#14,737
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To obtain or receive (something) from something else.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

derive vs dive
67% similar
derive vs drive
83% similar
derive vs drove
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for derive
PropertyValue
Headwordderive
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/dɪˈɹaɪv/
Letters6
Frequency rank#14,737
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “derive” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). derive lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for derive is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪˈɹaɪv/. Corpus data places it at rank #14,737 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for derive, with forms such as "dderive", "deirve", and "deriev". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "dive", "drive", "drove", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English deriven, from Old French deriver, from Latin dērīvō (“to lead, turn, or draw off (a liquid), draw off, derive”), from dē (“away”) + rīvus (“a stream”); see rival. Unrelated to arrive. The correct English form is derive, spelled D-E-R-I-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To obtain or receive (something) from something else.
  2. 2
    To deduce (a conclusion) by reasoning.
  3. 3
    To find the derivation of (a word or phrase).
  4. 4
    To create (a compound) from another by means of a reaction.
  5. 5
    To originate or stem (from).
  6. 6
    To turn the course of (water, etc.); to divert and distribute into subordinate channels.
  7. 7
    To differentiate (a function).

Etymology

From Middle English deriven, from Old French deriver, from Latin dērīvō (“to lead, turn, or draw off (a liquid), draw off, derive”), from dē (“away”) + rīvus (“a stream”); see rival. Unrelated to arrive.

This word in other languages

derivar(Español)tirer(Français)erlangen(Deutsch)deduzir(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: dderive,deirve,deriev,derivve,derrive,dervie,dreive,edrive

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of derive - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

dderive1deirve2deriev2derivve1derrive1dervie2dreive2edrive2
Edit distance from "derive"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "derive"?
"derive" is spelled D-E-R-I-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈɹaɪv/.
What does "derive" mean?
As a verb, "derive" means: To obtain or receive (something) from something else.
What words are commonly confused with "derive"?
"derive" is commonly confused with "dive", "drive", "drove". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "derive"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "derive" is /dɪˈɹaɪv/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "derive"?
From Middle English deriven, from Old French deriver, from Latin dērīvō (“to lead, turn, or draw off (a liquid), draw off, derive”), from dē (“away”) + rīvus (“a stream”); see rival. Unrelated to arrive. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “derive”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-R-I-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɪˈɹaɪv/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “dive” - see the side-by-side comparison. derive vs dive
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list