Etymologically
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productivity

Etymology and origin of the English word productivity

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1809

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌpɹɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/, /-vɪti/ (UK); /ˌpɹoʊdʌkˈtɪvəti/, /ˌpɹɑdʌkˈtɪvəti/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from productive and -ity,[2] or from Late Latin productivus.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The quality of being productive: 1809 in Etymonline, 1809–10 in the OED;[2][4] MWU dates it to 1818.[5] An earlier word was productiveness (1727).[2]

Semantic evolution

In economics, the rate of output per unit of input is from 1899.[2][4] In ecology, the rate of production of biomass is from 1908.[4] Productivity agreement and productivity deal are from 1978.[4]

Timeline

  • 1727 – productiveness.[2]
  • 1809 – the quality of being productive.[2][4]
  • 1899 – in economics.[2][4]
  • 1908 – in ecology.[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The state or quality of being productive.
  2. (economics) The rate of output per unit of input, such as labour or capital.

Word family

  • semiproductivity

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
Cite this entry

“Productivity.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/productivity. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·