productivity

American  

[proh-duhk-tiv-i-tee, prod-uhk‑] / ˌproʊ dʌkˈtɪv ɪ ti, ˌprɒd ʌk‑ /

noun

1. the quality, state, or fact of being able to generate, create, enhance, or bring forth goods and services.

   The productivity of the group's effort surprised everyone.

2. Economics. the rate at which goods and services having exchange value are brought forth or produced.

   Productivity increased dramatically last year.

3. Grammar. the ability to form new words using established patterns and discrete linguistic elements, as the derivational affixes -ness and -ity,

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productivity British  

/ ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. the output of an industrial concern in relation to the materials, labour, etc, it employs

2. the state of being productive

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productivity Cultural  

1. In business, a measure of worker efficiency, such as one hundred units per hour. In economics, involvement in the creation of goods and services to produce wealth.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonproductivity
  noun
• semiproductivity
  noun
• unproductivity
  noun
• antiproductivity
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of productivity

First recorded in 1800–10; productiv(e) ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Explanation

Use the noun productivity to describe how much you can get done. Your boss at work probably keeps track of your productivity — meaning he’s checking to see how much work you do and how well you do it. The word productivity is often used in the workplace. It can describe the performance of individual workers, a department, or even an entire industry. You’ll often hear it used with a percentage. Your boss might come in with a smile and say that productivity has increased by 30 percent. Productivity is also frequently used in relation to farming. If you live in a farming community you likely hear news reports about agricultural productivity in your area.

Example Sentences

At the same time, history has shown that technology can unlock productivity and innovation, fueling wealth and employment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

But restricting AI development asks them to forgo better cancer diagnostics, faster drug discovery, improved weather forecasting and productivity gains compounding across every sector.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Tech companies will spend as much as one trillion dollars on AI development next year, and expected productivity gains have helped push up shares of perceived AI winners.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Meanwhile, research by workforce management company UKG suggests the World Cup could cost UK employers around £681m in lost productivity.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

In reality, that’s not true: on the average across all industries, America’s industrial productivity is higher than that in either Japan or Germany.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• capacity
• fertility
• production
• yield