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

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

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

But the search often misses something fundamental: The real driver of productivity isn’t the layout.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026

Artificial intelligence that could add $14 trillion to global capital spending in the next five years may see a productivity payoff that arrives faster and proves more disinflationary than expected by investors, said Pimco.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 13, 2026

Lastly, while the surprise year-end retirement of Mark Anderson is a notable headline, the company continues to ramp productivity of quota carrying reps, and underlying enterprise momentum remains strong.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

While 75% of individuals reported a boost in productivity, only 13% of the organizations say they have seen significant business gains as a result of AI adoption, the survey found.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

Meanwhile, the German metalworking and steel industries are equal in productivity to their American counterparts.

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

Related Words

• capacity
• fertility
• production
• yield