productive Hear it!

productive Definition

pro·duc·tive (prə duk′tiv, prō-)

adjective

  1. producing abundantly; fertile productive soil, a productive mind
  2. marked by abundant production or effective results a productive day
  3. bringing as a result (with of) war is productive of much misery
  4. Econ. of or engaged in the creating of economic value, or the producing of goods and services
  5. Linguis. designating any affix or method which can be and still is used to make new forms “non-” is a productive prefix

Etymology: ML productivus < LL, fit for prolongation < L productus, pp. of producere: see produce

productive Related Forms

pro·duc′·tively adverb pro·duc·tiv·ity (prō′dək tiv′ə tē, präd′ək-) noun or pro·duc′·tive·ness

productive Synonyms

productive

modif.

rich, fruitful, prolific; see fertile 1, 2.

productive Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

make: Training Research proves that good quality training helps retain and motivate staff as well as making businesses more productive.

Modifies a noun

  • force: The growth of productive forces created the material premise for a new culture.
  • capacity: There is not a shortage of productive capacity of real wealth in the world.
  • farmland: More productive farmland means less need to convert wilderness.
  • workforce: Excessive hours working is no recipe for a healthy, productive workforce.
  • cough: Smoking is especially dangerous if you have a persistent, productive cough.
  • relationship: We hope the result of these talks is the first step in a new and productive relationship with the unions.

Modifying Another Word

  • biologically: The Seas Around Scotland Scotland's seas, positioned between subpolar and subtropical influences, are among the most biologically productive in the world.
  • agriculturally: The Kano region is the most agriculturally productive part of the country, with increased yields of sorghum, millet, cowpeas and groundnuts.
  • highly: In such a situation, highly productive staff would tend to have their salaries bid up.
  • enormously: At its best this is an enormously productive relationship, with life-long loyalties in both directions.
  • incredibly: This was altogether an incredibly productive week despite the hangovers and temperatures over 90 degrees.
  • remarkably: And some of these lochs can be remarkably productive.

Used with adjective complement

  • counter: The cost to SMEs combined with the impending increases to the National Minimum Wage could be counter productive.
  • prove: These proved quite productive with a good selection of waders.
  • become: Will it try to become more productive, or diversify into something else, or simply go out of business?
  • remain: The tree can remain productive for 100 years or so.
  • stay: Stay productive by taking critical information on the go!

Preposition: in

term: These latter are extremely productive in value terms relative to the rest of the economy.

Preposition: than

farm: Small farms are far more productive than large farms.