unproductive
Britishadjective
-
(often foll by of) not productive of (anything)
-
not producing goods and services with exchange value
Other Word Forms
- unproductively adverb
- unproductiveness noun
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.
“Because if you don’t activate them, they can quite often become places where unhealthy, unproductive activity takes place.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026
By focusing on the future and helping her do the same, you can avoid sliding into an unproductive and unpleasant dynamic.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 2, 2026
But he observed that team members often seemed mentally exhausted and unproductive by Friday.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026
Rangers sacked Russell Martin after 17 games on 5 October and held unproductive talks with former manager Steven Gerrard, Rohl and ex-Ibrox defender Kevin Muscat.
From BBC • Oct. 20, 2025
But he knew he was wrong to think this way, and it was unproductive in any case.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
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.
