# unproductive

/ˌənpɹəˈdəktɪv/ (US) · /ʌnpɹədˈʌktɪv/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unproductive
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

not producing good results or doing enough work. You use this to describe a person, a meeting, or a period of time where nothing useful happens.

For teachers: failing to produce a desired result or a significant amount of output. Often used to describe labor, land, or professional activities that do not yield profit or progress.

## Examples

- The meeting was unproductive and we made no decisions.
- After three hours of unproductive debate, the committee decided to postpone the vote until more data was available.
- Economists warned that an unproductive workforce could lead to long-term stagnation, as the lack of innovation prevents the industry from competing on a global scale.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is very unproductively" but "He is very unproductive" — Learners sometimes use the adverb form after a linking verb instead of the adjective.

## Usage notes

- Often follows linking verbs like 'be', 'become', or 'remain'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.