productivity

American  

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

noun

productivities plural

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• productivities
  plural

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

While AI has not caused sweeping job losses across industries, it has helped to reshape the labor market as companies utilize the tech in attempts to boost productivity and efficiency.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 8, 2026

Easing oil prices and any future artificial-intelligence productivity gains likely won’t be enough to “fix the inflation problem,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026

Concentration, decision-making, creativity and productivity all take a nosedive too.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026

That would lower the productivity of crops, forests, and marine algae.

From Science Daily • Jul. 3, 2026

Yet the productivity of the German beer industry is only 43 percent that of the U.S. beer industry.

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

Related Words

• capacity
• fertility
• production
• yield