productive

[ pruh-duhk-tiv ]

adjective

1. having the power of producing; generative; creative:

   a productive effort.

2. producing readily or abundantly; fertile:

   a productive vineyard.

   Synonyms: fecund

   Antonyms: sterile

3. causing; bringing about (usually followed by of ):

   conditions productive of crime and sin.

4. Economics. producing or tending to produce goods and services having exchange value.
5. Grammar. (of derivational affixes or patterns) readily used in forming new words, as the suffix -ness.
6. (in language learning) of or relating to the language skills of speaking and writing ( receptive ).

productive

/ prəˈdʌktɪv /

adjective

1. producing or having the power to produce; fertile
2. yielding favourable or effective results
3. economics
   1. producing or capable of producing goods and services that have monetary or exchange value

      productive assets

   2. of or relating to such production

      the productive processes of an industry

4. postpositivefoll byof resulting in

   productive of good results

5. denoting an affix or combining form used to produce new words

Derived Forms

• proˈductively, adverb
• proˈductiveness, noun

Other Words From

• pro·ductive·ly adverb
• pro·ductive·ness noun
• pro·duc·tiv·i·ty [proh-duhk-, tiv, -i-tee], noun
• anti·pro·ductive adjective
• anti·pro·ductive·ly adverb
• semi·pro·ductive adjective
• semi·pro·ductive·ly adverb
• unpro·ductive adjective
• unpro·ductive·ly adverb
• unpro·ductive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of productive¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from the Medieval Latin word productīvus; product, -ive

Synonym Study

Productive, fertile, fruitful, prolific apply to the generative aspect of something. Productive refers to a generative source of continuing activity: productive soil; a productive influence. Fertile applies to that in which seeds, literal or figurative, take root: fertile soil; a fertile imagination. Fruitful refers to that which has already produced and is capable of further production: fruitful soil, discovery, theory. Prolific means highly productive: a prolific farm, writer.

Example Sentences

It is investing in schemes to develop hybrid cocoa plants, that are more productive than existing varieties.

From BBC

It turned out to be a productive union for the ferry operator - the couple went on to have four daughters, two of whom grew up to work for CalMac.

From BBC

"But we have to do everything to ensure that the results of our interaction between Ukraine and America, the whole of Europe and America, are productive and positive," he added.

From BBC

There are responses to this that could have been productive.

From Salon

"That gives us a bit of a buzz, because we’re actively working in the community and using our skills in a productive way," he says.

From BBC

Related Words

• advantageous
• beneficial
• constructive
• dynamic
• effective
• energetic
• fertile
• gratifying
• profitable
• prolific
• rewarding
• useful
• valuable
• vigorous
• worthwhile