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

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

Etymology

Origin of productivity

First recorded in 1800–10; productiv(e) ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

That represents a “treasure chest of data” to power AI, and it stems from the productivity software the company owns, like Microsoft 365, Teams, Fabric, Dynamics and LinkedIn.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Shift work disorder is linked to a range of serious concerns, including reduced mental sharpness, lower productivity, increased risk of car accidents, and more workplace injuries.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

The company recently ditched its much-hyped Sora video app, and is looking at other areas to cut so it can focus its efforts on building so-called productivity tools, particularly coding assistants.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid echoed that view on Tuesday, saying he sees “solid demand momentum, strong productivity gains, and relatively low unemployment,” with AI-driven business investment as a major engine of growth.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Throughout Amazonia, farmers prize terra preta for its great productivity; some have worked it for years with minimal fertilization.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• capacity
• fertility
• production
• yield