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” has 8 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #14,737. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#14,737
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To obtain or receive (something) from something else.

Corpus desk

Index EN-derive · derive · English

derive · rank #14,737 · 8 variants · 20 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #14,737
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-HIGH 20 pairs
  • VAR-MID 8 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH deposition

Nearest frequency peer: deposition (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “derive”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “derive” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

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)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “derive”

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

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “deposition” (#14,736), “descend” (#14,738), “delusional” (#14,735). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “derive” is #14,737. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 8 spelling variants around derive (IPA /dɪˈɹaɪv/), averb. Corpus frequency is #14,737 among 3,470 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 7 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

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).

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how derive appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Reading books is the best way to derive knowledge.
  2. Bob the aforesaid, and his present chances of deriving a competent independence from the honourable profession to which he had devoted himself.

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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "derive", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

cosmos#14,727cheeky#14,717fandom#14,758brandy#14,707

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (8 here; floor ≥5).

Ernst8 variantsbrink8 variantsjaguar8 variantsoutlaw8 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list