productive

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

Synonyms

• constructive
• formative

Examples of productive in a Sentence

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

There was a lot of emotion in the room, as attendees learned about some of the many people that Autism Speaks has not only supported since childhood, but help thrive as productive, happy individuals. —Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025

The precise planting also reduces water loss to make your garden more efficient and productive with less toil and cost. —Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2025

In ridding the building of the taste of the 2024 season, Poles set out to hire Johnson, and their first class together has tough football players who were highly productive in college. —Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025

Both of those players were more productive in college and both would likely be more prepared to start during their rookie season. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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