profusion

noun

pro·​fu·​sion prə-ˈfyü-zhən How to pronounce profusion (audio)
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.

Examples of profusion in a Sentence

The flowers grow in profusion. apples grow in profusion in this valley
Recent Examples on the Web Despite a reputation for decadence, Italy has a centuries-old wellness culture, thanks to the hiking traditions of the Dolomites and the profusion of hot springs in Tuscany. Rachael McKeon, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2023 Given the profusion of little pusses, why was the North African wildcat the one to give rise to our household companions? Jonathan Losos, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2023 In recent years, the 23-year-old Baton Rouge native has been transposing his interior thoughts about grief and vengeance into an overwhelming profusion of music that only seems to exist inside his head and on streaming platforms. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2023 The profusion of generative A.I. tools has also sparked discussions about potential existential threats to humanity if A.I. were somehow to become too powerful to be controlled, as well as concerns about near-term problems like privacy issues from A.I. tools and bias in the technology. Stephen Pastis, Fortune, 19 July 2023 With such a profusion of instruments, a volcano rarely erupts without scientists having some sort of heads-up. Timmy Broderick, Scientific American, 11 July 2023 The profusion of taller, heavier vehicles changes the road-safety equation, Knittel told us, making their drivers safer and people in smaller vehicles less safe. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2023 The profusion of user data on Lark alarmed some TikTok employees, especially since ByteDance workers in China and elsewhere could easily see the material, according to internal reports and four current and former employees. Ryan Mac, New York Times, 24 May 2023 The sun beat down on her and on the profusion of wildflowers in the yards. Jeffrey Gettleman Finbarr O’Reilly, New York Times, 3 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'profusion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of profusion was in 1545

Dictionary Entries Near profusion

Cite this Entry

“Profusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profusion. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

profusion

noun
pro·​fu·​sion prə-ˈfyü-zhən How to pronounce profusion (audio)
: a plentiful supply : great quantity
lilacs blooming in profusion

More from Merriam-Webster on profusion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!