productivity
Americannoun
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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.
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Economics. the rate at which goods and services having exchange value are brought forth or produced.
Productivity increased dramatically last year.
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Grammar. the ability to form new words using established patterns and discrete linguistic elements, as the derivational affixes -ness and -ity,
noun
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the output of an industrial concern in relation to the materials, labour, etc, it employs
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the state of being productive
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing productivity
Human Geography - Middle School
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Human Geography - High School
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Economics
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He can choose not to compound an energy shock with monetary restraint that damages capital formation and productivity growth exactly when the economy needs both.
From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026
Some have cited productivity gains enabling fewer workers to accomplish more with AI, while others pointed out restructuring and cost-cutting to prepare for the AI disruption.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
Warsh has argued that productivity gains from artificial intelligence-led innovation will allow the US economy to grow rapidly without adding to inflation.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
"We have turned a corner in the last 12 months with significantly improved levels of productivity, helping us to deliver major milestones ahead of schedule," he said.
From BBC • May 19, 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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
