There are several meanings of derivation:

• A derivation in abstract algebra is a linear map that satisfies Leibniz' law.
• A derivation in computer science is a parse tree representing one possible way to parse a string using a context-free grammar.
• A derivation in logic may also be used as a synonym for proof, particularly for formulae.
• A derivation in linguistics is the process of changing the meaning and/or lexical class of a lexeme by adding a morpheme.
• A derivation in music, using the twelve tone technique, refers to the creation of a derived row, or a tone row whose entirety of twelve tones is constructed from a segment or portion of the whole, the generator.