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

Bozeman popped up on the second team after an extremely productive preseason debut for Cincinnati. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Finding the right balance between maintaining a clean workspace and staying productive can feel like a constant battle. — New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2026

Florida’s depth is concerning, though this starting group could be productive enough to mitigate damage as others develop. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Organize Around Customer Value Turning a store concept into a productive investment requires coordinated choices. — Ayşe Çetinel, Harvard Business Review, 18 Aug. 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