What is a derivative in linguistics?

In linguistics, a derivative refers specifically to a word that is formed by adding a suffix to a base word. This process typically involves taking a root or base form and modifying it with the addition of a morpheme that alters its meaning or grammatical category, such as tense, number, or part of speech. For example, the base word "beauty" can become "beautiful" by adding the suffix "-ful," creating a new word that conveys a related, but distinct, meaning.

The role of derivatives is significant in the study of language as they help illustrate how words can evolve and how different forms of words can express various functions in syntax and semantics. This contrasts with the other choices, which describe different morphological processes that do not align with the standard understanding of derivatives in linguistics.