A 5-methylene-1,3-dioxolan-4-one derivative and a monomer and copolymer thereof and a resist composition containing the polymer or copolymer where the 5-methylene-1,3 -dioxolan-4-one derivative is of formula (1): ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 represents a bridged cyclic hydrocarbon group containing 4 to 16 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms which has a bridged cyclic hydrocarbon group containing 4 to 16 carbon atoms as a substituent; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms; or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a bridged cyclic hydrocarbon group containing 4 to 16 carbon atoms together with the carbon atom to which they are bound, provided that the alkyl group and the bridged cyclic hydrocarbon group may have at least one substituent selected from a group consisting of a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may be optionally substituted, a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, an acyl group containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and a carboxy group esterified with an alcohol containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms.