profusion
noun
pro·fu·sion
prə-ˈfyü-zhən 
prō-
1
: lavish expenditure : extravagance
2
: the quality or state of being profuse
3
: great quantity : lavish display or supply
snow falling in profusion
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A profusion is literally a "pouring forth", so a profusion of gifts is a wealth or abundance of gifts. A profusely illustrated book is filled to overflowing with pictures. A bad social error should be followed by profuse apologies, and profound gratitude should be expressed with profuse thanks.
Examples of profusion in a Sentence
The flowers grow in profusion.
apples grow in profusion in this valley
Recent Examples on the Web
You'll be rewarded with a profusion of flowers in late summer.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The post-1945 explosion in birth rates coincided with the rise of the television age and the profusion of social science claptrap to serve and soothe a nation anxious in its affluence.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2026
When insurance adjusters examined the roadway where the crashes were happening, there were no obvious hazards—like faulty lighting or an especially steep grade—that could account for this newfound profusion.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Bakelite had been a novelty, but plastics in all their profusion became an addiction.
—Caroline Fraser, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profusion
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Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The post-1945 explosion in birth rates coincided with the rise of the television age and the profusion of social science claptrap to serve and soothe a nation anxious in its affluence.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2026
When insurance adjusters examined the roadway where the crashes were happening, there were no obvious hazards—like faulty lighting or an especially steep grade—that could account for this newfound profusion.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Bakelite had been a novelty, but plastics in all their profusion became an addiction.
—Caroline Fraser, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profusion
Cite this Entry
“Profusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profusion. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
profusion
noun
pro·fu·sion
prə-ˈfyü-zhən
: a plentiful supply : great quantity
lilacs blooming in profusion
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