unproductive
Britishadjective
-
(often foll by of) not productive of (anything)
-
not producing goods and services with exchange value
Other Word Forms
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.
As more cells enter this unproductive state, fewer remain available to carry out the liver's normal work.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 31, 2026
After months of unproductive negotiations, Live Nation saw its fortunes change in roughly the span of a week.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
Indonesia's president mulled the possibility of a special court on Friday to investigate "unproductive" boards reporting "made up" profits, as he vowed to close 750 state-owned enterprises by year end.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
The closures targeted “structurally unproductive stores” with low sales, the company said on an earnings call last week.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026
He looked upon me with confusion, and I demanded again that he fall and wait to be led away as unproductive.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
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.
