prolific
pruh-LIHF-ihk
Prolific (adj) means producing a large amount of something, especially offspring, fruit, or creative work. Example: “She is one of the most prolific novelists of her generation, publishing a new book almost every year.”
adj
1
Producing a large amount of something, especially offspring, fruit, or creative work.
"She is one of the most prolific novelists of her generation, publishing a new book almost every year."
"The orchard's oldest tree is still remarkably prolific, dropping bushels of apples every autumn."
2
Abundant or plentiful in general.
"Wildflowers are prolific along that stretch of coastline in early summer."
How to use prolific
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishProducing a lot of something — usually work, offspring, or output — again and again.
Common pairings
a prolific writer
prolific goal scorer
prolific breeder
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like prolific.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more prolific
- Superlative
- most prolific
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She is one of the most _____ novelists of her generation, publishing a new book almost every year.
Etymology
First recorded around 1635, from French prolifique, ultimately from Latin prōlēs ("offspring") plus -ficus ("making").
Class of 1635
prolific joined the language around 1635.
See the full Class of 1635 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for prolific
See all rhymes for prolific →Frequently asked questions
What does “prolific” mean?
The word “prolific” means producing a large amount of something, especially offspring, fruit, or creative work. In plain terms, producing a lot of something — usually work, offspring, or output — again and again.
How do you pronounce “prolific”?
“Prolific” is pronounced pruh-LIHF-ihk (/pɹəˈlɪf.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “prolific” in a sentence?
Here is “prolific” used in a sentence: “She is one of the most prolific novelists of her generation, publishing a new book almost every year.”
What is another word for “prolific”?
Words with a similar meaning to “prolific” include fertile.
What part of speech is “prolific”?
“Prolific” is an adjective.
Where does the word “prolific” come from?
The word “prolific” dates back to around 1635 and comes from Latin. First recorded around 1635, from French prolifique, ultimately from Latin prōlēs ("offspring") plus -ficus ("making").
Is “prolific” a common word?
“Prolific” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “prolific” have?
“Prolific” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: producing a large amount of something, especially offspring, fruit, or creative work.
What is the difference between prolific and productive?
Productive generally describes efficient output of any kind, while prolific specifically emphasizes a large quantity, especially of creative work, offspring, or fruit, such as a prolific author who has written dozens of novels. Prolific tends to highlight abundance more strongly than productive.
What is prolific most commonly used to describe?
Prolific is often used for writers, artists, and musicians who produce a large volume of work, as well as for plants or animals that reproduce abundantly, such as a prolific fruit tree.
Can prolific be used outside of creative or biological contexts?
Yes, prolific can describe anything abundant or plentiful in general, such as a prolific source of errors, extending beyond its most common uses describing creative output or reproduction.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include prolific:
