prolific
adjective
pro·lif·ic
prə-ˈli-fik 
1
: marked by abundant inventiveness or productivity
a prolific composer
And over the course of her prolific career, [Alice] Walker has gone on to write over 40 genre-spanning books.—
Rayna Reid Rayford
Rayna Reid Rayford2
: producing young or fruit especially freely : fruitful
The half-inch blooms are round and prolific, borne atop leafy stems.—Adrian Higgins
Adrian Higgins3
archaic
: causing abundant growth, generation, or reproduction
Examples of prolific in a Sentence
Since [David] Mamet is a prolific writer of Hollywood screenplays, there are today more people who know his work than know that they know it.
—Juliet Fleming, Times Literary Supplement, 18 Feb. 2000
The main rival to his pneumonia was the prolific thrush which went into his throat and stomach.
—Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, 1993
A writer as established and prolific as Joyce Carol Oates can approach her material in a wealth of ways unavailable to the more plodding.
—Jane Smiley, New York Times Book Review, 5 May 1991
Here there are … restaurants, wine bars, bookshops, estate agents more prolific than doctors, and attractive people in black, few of them aging.
—Hanif Kureishi, Granta 22, Autumn 1987
a famously prolific author who could produce several works of fiction and nonfiction a year
Juliet Fleming, Times Literary Supplement, 18 Feb. 2000
The main rival to his pneumonia was the prolific thrush which went into his throat and stomach.
—Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, 1993
A writer as established and prolific as Joyce Carol Oates can approach her material in a wealth of ways unavailable to the more plodding.
—Jane Smiley, New York Times Book Review, 5 May 1991
Here there are … restaurants, wine bars, bookshops, estate agents more prolific than doctors, and attractive people in black, few of them aging.
—Hanif Kureishi, Granta 22, Autumn 1987
a famously prolific author who could produce several works of fiction and nonfiction a year
Recent Examples on the Web
Madison Booker powers Longhorns’ offense Booker is one of college basketball’s most prolific midrange shooters.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026
Especially compared to prolific output from an infield — including behind the plate — that was at or near the top of MLB in several categories.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Graham’s consulting role is perhaps more surprising as he is not known first and foremost for his comedy chops, although he is widely regarded as one of the most prolific creatives in British TV.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
According to the prolific author and pitmaster, fire is universal, cutting across borders, traditions and trends.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prolific
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Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026
Especially compared to prolific output from an infield — including behind the plate — that was at or near the top of MLB in several categories.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Graham’s consulting role is perhaps more surprising as he is not known first and foremost for his comedy chops, although he is widely regarded as one of the most prolific creatives in British TV.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
According to the prolific author and pitmaster, fire is universal, cutting across borders, traditions and trends.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prolific
Cite this Entry
“Prolific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prolific. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prolific
adjective
pro·lif·ic
prə-ˈlif-ik
1
: producing young or fruit in large numbers
a prolific orchard
2
: highly inventive : productive
a prolific writer
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