Word
productivity
Phoneticspro·duc·tiv·i·ty, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌpɹoʊdəkˈtɪvəti/
UK/pɹˌɒdəktˈɪvɪti/
Definitions
01work efficiency
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the rate at which a person or company does useful work.
n. the effectiveness of productive effort, especially in industry, as measured in terms of the rate of output per unit of input.
“The new software helped the team increase their productivity by finishing tasks faster.”
“Economists are concerned that stagnant productivity growth across the manufacturing sector could lead to long-term wage suppression.”
Usage
Usually uncountable; often used with verbs like 'increase', 'boost', or 'improve'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02agriculture
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Academic
n. the amount of crops grown on a specific area of land.
n. the yield or output of crops per unit of land area, often used to assess soil quality or farming techniques.
“Using better fertilizer can improve the productivity of the soil.”
“The study examined how climate change affects the agricultural productivity of sub-Saharan regions over a ten-year period.”
Antonyms
03linguistics
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Academic · Technical
n. how easily a language rule can be used to make new words.
n. the capacity of a grammatical pattern or affix to be used by speakers to create new linguistic forms.
“The suffix '-ness' has high productivity because we can add it to many adjectives to make nouns.”
“Morphological productivity varies significantly between different affixes, with some remaining active while others become entirely fossilized.”
Teaching tip
This is a highly specialized term in linguistics; in general conversation, use 'flexibility' or 'creativity' instead.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “productivity” in context.
Verb
01. improve productivity
“Implementing a four-day work week is one strategy to improve productivity and employee morale.”
verb + noun
02. increase productivity
“The new software was designed specifically to increase productivity across the accounting department.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. agricultural productivity
“New irrigation techniques have significantly boosted agricultural productivity in the region.”
adj + noun
04. increased productivity
“The company reported that increased productivity led to a record-breaking quarterly profit.”
adj + noun
05. low productivity
“Management is concerned that low productivity is being caused by outdated office equipment.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Officials also wrote that the reforms could provide a £10bn boost to the economy because of better wellbeing and productivity.” “Mary, another former content writer whose name we've changed, says her employer encouraged the use of AI as a productivity tool.” “Facing acute labour shortages, ageing demographics and chronic productivity problems, Japanese companies should be fertile ground for the take-up of artificial intelligence (AI).” Etymology
From productive + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/productivity