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

The reduction will position the company for “continued growth as a more competitive and productive organization,” Applied Materials said External link in a government filing Thursday.

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So as today’s Saudi leaders modernize the economy and society, their priority is a happier, healthier, more open-minded and productive country.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Early research also seems to indicate that the use of AI isn’t helping workers become more productive so far, which could be helping to stem layoffs.

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The plan emphasizes “new quality productive forces” like AI and semiconductors, which have driven double-digit percentage gains in the Chinese stock market.

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In that March 23 game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period — a productive quarter but well below his usual total output for a full game.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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