Deriva

Deriva is a term used in several Romance languages to denote drift, deviation, or a process of becoming derived from something. It is commonly used in everyday language to describe a movement away from a planned course, and in scientific contexts to denote a physical drift caused by external forces such as wind, water, or currents.

Geology uses the term deriva in phrases such as deriva continental, describing the slow movement of Earth's landmasses relative to each other. In oceanography and meteorology, deriva describes the drift of ships, ice, or pollutants caused by winds and currents. In general, deriva conveys a sense of gradual, directional movement over time.

In urban studies and critical theory, the concept dérive, with an accent, is central to psychogeography and the Situationist tradition. It describes aimless wandering through cities to reveal hidden processes and to subvert conventional urban planning. In Spanish and Italian usage, deriva is sometimes used to render the same idea, though the French term dérive is also common in scholarly and cultural contexts.

The term also appears broadly as a noun for deviation from a plan or norm, rather than a formal mathematical derivative (which in these languages is usually derivad a in Spanish, derivata in Italian). Deriva can occur as a label or title in cultural works, but such uses are relatively uncommon. Overall, deriva functions as a flexible concept for movement, drift, or deviation across disciplines and languages.