prolific
Americanadjective
-
producing offspring, young, fruit, etc., abundantly; highly fruitful.
a prolific pear tree.
- Antonyms:
- barren
-
producing in large quantities or with great frequency; highly productive.
a prolific writer.
-
profusely productive or fruitful (often followed by in orof ).
a bequest prolific of litigations.
-
characterized by abundant production.
a prolific year for tomatoes.
adjective
-
producing fruit, offspring, etc, in abundance
-
producing constant or successful results
-
rich or fruitful
Related Words
See productive.
Other Word Forms
- nonprolific adjective
- nonprolificacy noun
- nonprolifically adverb
- nonprolificness noun
- overprolific adjective
- overprolifically adverb
- overprolificness noun
- prolificacy noun
- prolifically adverb
- prolificity noun
- prolificness noun
- unprolific adjective
- unprolifically adverb
- unprolificness noun
Etymology
Origin of prolific
First recorded in 1640–50, prolific is from the Medieval Latin word prōlificus “fertile.” See prolicide, -fic
Explanation
Someone or something that is prolific is fruitful or highly productive. A prolific songwriter can churn out five hit tunes before breakfast. A prolific writer cranks out two novels a year, and a prolific rabbit has baby bunnies every few months. The word comes from combining the medieval Latin prolificus (“offspring”) with a form of facere (“to make or do”). It can also connote something taking root and growing, like prolific poison ivy that takes over the yard.
Vocabulary lists containing prolific
The Scarlet Letter
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GRE Verbal Reasoning, List 1
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"A Modest Proposal," Vocabulary from the satire
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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.
These two of the most prolific scorers in high school basketball history in Ohio are cut from the same cloth.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026
Before playing John F. Kennedy Jr. in the FX series “Love Story,” the actor Paul Anthony Kelly was a prolific catalog model—and retailers from L.L.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
One of the most prolific contributors to recessions over the past four centuries has been energy price shocks.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
"I mean, there's always that feeling, especially in a period where people are constantly generating content and being prolific," she admits.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
Along with everything else he accomplished, Bass was a prolific author and the recipient of many scientific awards.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
