productive

[pruh-duhk-tiv]

adjective

1. having the power of producing; generative; creative.

   a productive effort.

2. producing readily or abundantly; fertile.

   a productive vineyard.

   Synonyms: fecund, fecund
   Antonyms: sterile, sterile

3. causing; bringing about (usually followed byof ).

   conditions productive of crime and sin.

4. Economics.,  producing or tending to produce goods and services having exchange value.

5. Grammar.,  (of derivational affixes or patterns) readily used in forming new words, as the suffix -ness.

6. (in language learning) of or relating to the language skills of speaking and writing (receptive ).

productive

/ prəˈdʌktɪv /

adjective

1. producing or having the power to produce; fertile

2. yielding favourable or effective results

3. economics

   1. producing or capable of producing goods and services that have monetary or exchange value

      productive assets

   2. of or relating to such production

      the productive processes of an industry

4. resulting in

   productive of good results

5. denoting an affix or combining form used to produce new words

Other Word Forms

• productively adverb
• productiveness noun
• productivity noun
• antiproductive adjective
• antiproductively adverb
• semiproductive adjective
• semiproductively adverb
• unproductive adjective
• unproductively adverb
• unproductiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of productive¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from the Medieval Latin word productīvus; product, -ive

Synonym Study

Productive, fertile, fruitful, prolific apply to the generative aspect of something. Productive refers to a generative source of continuing activity: productive soil; a productive influence. Fertile applies to that in which seeds, literal or figurative, take root: fertile soil; a fertile imagination. Fruitful refers to that which has already produced and is capable of further production: fruitful soil, discovery, theory. Prolific means highly productive: a prolific farm, writer.

Example Sentences

“I still love to be in hockey and I’m still productive,” Kopitar said.

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By early this week, conversations between the San Bruno streamer and NBCUniversal were more productive, according to one person close to the situation who was not authorized to comment.

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In court filings, lawyers described Combs' incarceration as "life changing, productive, and a testament to his desire to return to his family and community and lead the best life possible."

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She said she would "support a shutdown if anything productive comes of it, but I'm unsure anything will".

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Greene might be the most gifted Reds’ starter, but others in their rotation have been even more productive this season.

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Related Words

• advantageous 
• beneficial 
• constructive 
• dynamic 
• effective 
• energetic 
• fertile 
• gratifying 
• profitable 
• prolific 
• rewarding 
• useful 
• valuable 
• vigorous 
• worthwhile