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

A “prolific” people smuggler has been convicted after co-ordinating a £1.5m operation to transport migrants across the English Channel in small boats.

From BBC

NCA branch operations manager Paul Jones, said: “It is clear from the evidence we were able to gather over the course of our investigation that Pistiwan Jameel was a prolific UK-based broker for people smuggling gangs in France.”

From BBC

A representative for Haynes confirmed to The Times that the prolific percussionist died Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times

A prolific romance fraudster is currently serving the latest in a string of prison sentences for scamming women out of thousands of pounds through false promises of love and a luxury lifestyle.

From BBC

Justin Welby has resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury after facing increasing pressure to stand down over his failure to report prolific child abuser John Smyth.

From BBC

Related Words

• creative
• rich