productive

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​duc·​tive prə-ˈdək-tiv 

prō-

1

: having the quality or power of producing especially in abundance

productive fishing waters

2

: effective in bringing about

… investigating committees have been productive of much good …

—R. K. Carr

3

a

: yielding results, benefits, or profits

b

: yielding or devoted to the satisfaction of wants or the creation of utilities

4

: continuing to be used in the formation of new words or constructions

un- is a productive prefix

5

: raising mucus or sputum (as from the bronchi)

a productive cough

productively adverb

productiveness noun

productiveness

2 of 2

noun

pro·​duc·​tive·​ness

-tivnə̇s, 

-tev- also -təv-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being productive

the prodigious productiveness of great workers

—C. W. Eliot

Synonyms of productive

Adjective

• creative
• constructive

Examples of productive in a Sentence

Adjective

I had a very productive day.

I am most productive in the morning.

Some staff members are more productive than others.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Essential, too, is the productive friction generated by grappling with and then mastering new knowledge. — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

Corporate profit margins are near postwar highs not because AI made companies more productive, but because firms used it as cover to raise prices while holding wages flat. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Critical thinking is still a prerequisite and should be taught alongside systems thinking; the starting point for students is to capture that thinking first and then have AI challenge that thinking in a productive way. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Van Den Berg has been a pleasant surprise, and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen called Street the most productive defensive tackle in camp. — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing productive

• hyper-productive

Rhymes for productive

• abductive
• conductive
• constructive
• deductive
• destructive
• inductive
• instructive
• obstructive
• reductive
• seductive
• counterproductive
• photoconductive

Kids Definition

productive

adjective

pro·​duc·​tive prə-ˈdək-tiv 

1

: having the power to produce plentifully

productive soil

productive fishing waters

2

: producing something

efforts productive of much good

3

: giving results

a productive meeting

productively adverb

productiveness noun

Medical Definition

productive

adjective

pro·​duc·​tive prə-ˈdək-tiv, prō- 

: raising mucus or sputum (as from the bronchi)

a productive cough