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

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms of profusion

• loads
• plenty
• ton
• dozen
• slew
• abundance
• wealth
• bunch
• quantity
• pile
• lot
• deal
• chunk
• raft

Examples of profusion in a Sentence

The flowers grow in profusion.

apples grow in profusion in this valley

Recent Examples on the Web

On its cinematic merits alone, the film would never have generated the profusion of think pieces, explainers, debates, and interviews that have both probed and promoted it in recent weeks. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 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

As for the ornate headwear, seersucker suits, and profusion of pastels that usually accompany this horse race, well, that’s your call. —Devra Ferst, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026

The profusion of locations for the third event means the marches may have commanded less national news coverage than iconic protests that centered on Washington, DC, including the civil rights March on Washington in 1963 and the antiwar Vietnam Moratorium protest in 1969. —Susan Page, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for profusion

• allusion
• collusion
• conclusion
• confusion
• contusion
• delusion
• diffusion
• effusion
• exclusion
• extrusion
• illusion
• inclusion

Kids Definition

profusion

noun

pro·​fu·​sion prə-ˈfyü-zhən 

: a plentiful supply : great quantity

lilacs blooming in profusion