prolific

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /pɹəˈlɪf.ɪk/ UK /pɹəˈlɪf.ɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #30189

Meanings

1

adj
Producing a great deal of work, results, or output.

She is a prolific writer who publishes two or three novels every year.
2

adj
Existing in large numbers; plentiful and abundant.

Rabbits are prolific breeders, so the population grew quickly.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · producing a great deal of... fertile

2 adj · existing in large numbers;... fecund

Word family

Derived forms antiprolifichyperprolificimprolificnonprolificoverprolificprolificacyprolificallyprolificationprolificityprolificnessunprolific

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

prolific writer
a person who produces a large quantity of written work

Adjective + noun

Etymology

1635: from French prolifique and its etymon Latin prōlificus, from prōlēs (“offspring”) + -ficus (“making”).

prolifique French prōlificus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# prolific

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /pɹəˈlɪf.ɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹəˈlɪf.ɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 30189

## Meanings
1. Producing a great deal of work, results, or output.
2. Existing in large numbers; plentiful and abundant.

## Examples
- She is a prolific writer who publishes two or three novels every year.
- Rabbits are prolific breeders, so the population grew quickly.

## Synonyms
- fertile

## Derived Forms
- antiprolific
- hyperprolific
- improlific
- nonprolific
- overprolific
- prolificacy
- prolifically
- prolification
- prolificity
- prolificness
- unprolific

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: prolifique
- Root: prōlificus

## Etymology
1635: from French prolifique and its etymon Latin prōlificus, from prōlēs (“offspring”) + -ficus (“making”).

## AI Etymology
Prolific is traced through 1635: from French prolifique and its etymon Latin prōlificus, from prōlēs (“offspring”) + -ficus (“making”). In present-day use, it can mean producing a great deal of work, results, or output, or existing in large numbers; plentiful and abundant. Derived formations include antiprolific, hyperprolific, improlific, nonprolific, and overprolific.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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