prolific

[ pruh-lif-ik ]

adjective

1. producing offspring, young, fruit, etc., abundantly; highly fruitful:

   a prolific pear tree.

   Synonyms: abundant, fecund, teeming

   Antonyms: barren

2. producing in large quantities or with great frequency; highly productive:

   a prolific writer.

   Synonyms: abundant, fecund, teeming

3. profusely productive or fruitful (often followed by in or of ):

   a bequest prolific of litigations.

4. characterized by abundant production:

   a prolific year for tomatoes.

prolific

/ prəˈlɪfɪk /

adjective

1. producing fruit, offspring, etc, in abundance
2. producing constant or successful results
3. often foll byin or of rich or fruitful

Derived Forms

• proˈlificness, noun
• proˈlifically, adverb

Other Words From

• pro·lif·i·ca·cy [pr, uh, -, lif, -i-k, uh, -see], pro·li·fic·i·ty [proh-l, uh, -, fis, -i-tee], pro·lific·ness noun
• pro·lifi·cal·ly adverb
• nonpro·lific adjective
• nonpro·lific·ness noun
• nonpro·lifi·ca·cy noun
• nonpro·lifi·cal·ly adverb
• over·pro·lific adjective
• over·pro·lific·ness noun
• over·pro·lifi·cal·ly adverb
• unpro·lific adjective
• unpro·lific·ness noun
• unpro·lifi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prolific¹

First recorded in 1640–50, prolific is from the Medieval Latin word prōlificus “fertile.” See prolicide, -fic

Word History and Origins

Origin of prolific¹

C17: from Medieval Latin prōlificus, from Latin prōlēs offspring

Synonym Study

See productive.

Example Sentences

Mr Welby announced last Tuesday that he would step down from the role after a review found he "could and should" have reported a prolific child abuser to police.

From BBC

Savile was one of Britain’s most notorious and prolific sex offenders.

From BBC

It comes after the Archbishop of Canterbury resigned over his failure to report prolific child abuser John Smyth.

From BBC

By the mid '80s he was believed to be the most prolific high-grade hashish smuggler in the business, importing thousands of tonnes of cannabis into the UK and US.

From BBC

So why did "the most prolific serial abuser to be associated with the Church of England", as the report described Smyth, avoid prosecution?

From BBC

Related Words

• creative
• rich