prolific

USAGE SUMMARY

"prolific" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective meaning "producing large quantities or amounts of something" (Oxford). Example sentence: The author is known for her prolific writing of novels and short stories.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

McLeish, with little money to waste, landed Kris Boyd: to the purist, hardly even a footballer; to the statistician, an outrageously prolific goalscorer.

The Guardian - Sport

But it was the first time Pescara's fans had ever witnessed such a prolific player in their colours.

The Guardian - Sport

The "peerlessly prolific" author works with a team of collaborators on his novels, which span thrillers, romance and young adult fantasy.

The Guardian - Books

It also wants a change of culture regarding, and over the next year it is launching a number of initiatives: a new social media platform ("the internet has been fantastic for us," says Richard Murphy, another TJN founder whose prolific blogging on tax affairs is followed by thousands), a film and a big conference early next year.

The Guardian - Business

"He was a mythical figure in my childhood... and his many musical scores, essays and patents in addition to his prolific artistic output attest to his many talents," she said.

The Guardian

In common with many friends and colleagues, I am a great fan of the late Anthony Burgess, that gobsmackingly prolific author, critic and composer.

The Guardian - Opinion

Iran, with whom Australia just signed an information-sharing deal, ranks third on the list of the world's most prolific executioners.

The Guardian

Donovan was a prolific author, writing dozens of books on the natural history of the British Isles.

The Guardian

Richards still dominates this island, a testament to more prolific times.

The Guardian - Travel

Savile, who died last year at the age of 84, is believed to have been one of the UK's most prolific sex offenders, with about 300 possible victims.

The Guardian

Now they must go first to Hove, to lick their wounds against Sussex, then to Old Trafford for the third Test in 10 days' time where they might expect conditions not dissimilar to those in which Monty Panesar and Steve Harmison have been prolific in the past.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prolific" to describe someone or something that produces a large quantity of work or output consistently. For instance, a "prolific" author, a "prolific" goalscorer, or a "prolific" artist.

Common error

Avoid using "prolific" to simply mean "good" or "successful". While a "prolific" individual often achieves success, the term specifically refers to the quantity of their output, not necessarily its quality. For instance, stating "He's a prolific manager" isn't correct unless he's known for high quantity output, even if his outcomes aren't optimal.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "prolific" primarily functions to describe a noun, indicating that the noun produces a great quantity of something. Ludwig examples confirm this, showcasing its use with authors, goalscorers, and artists.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Sport

18%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "prolific" is an adjective used to describe something or someone producing a large quantity of work or output. It is grammatically correct and very common, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis and the numerous examples found in reliable sources. Its usage spans various contexts, from news and media to sports and business. The word maintains a neutral to formal tone. Common alternatives include "highly productive" and "abundantly fruitful". According to Ludwig AI, the word is correct and usable. Remember that "prolific" specifically refers to the quantity of output, not necessarily its quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly productive

Emphasizes the efficiency and rate of output.

abundantly fruitful

Focuses on the positive results and rich yield of efforts.

extremely fertile

Highlights the capacity to generate a large quantity of offspring or products.

copiously creative

Stresses the large volume of creative work produced.

exceptionally generative

Focuses on the ability to create or produce continuously.

highly fecund

Similar to fertile, but often used in a more biological or abstract sense.

massively productive

Emphasizes the large scale of output.

richly productive

Highlights the quality and abundance of the results.

extensively creative

Stresses the breadth and scale of creative output.

superbly inventive

Focuses on the high level of inventiveness leading to substantial output.

FAQs

How can I use "prolific" in a sentence?

You can use "prolific" to describe someone or something that produces a large quantity of work or output consistently. For example: "She is a "prolific writer"", "He was a "prolific goalscorer"", or "The artist had a "prolific career"".

What words can I use instead of "prolific"?

Alternatives to "prolific" include "highly productive", "abundantly fruitful", or "copiously creative", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say someone is "prolific" if their output is high quality but not very frequent?

No, "prolific" specifically refers to the quantity of output, not primarily its quality. If someone produces high-quality work infrequently, other adjectives like "exceptional" or "masterful" may be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "prolific" and "productive"?

"Prolific" emphasizes the abundance or large quantity of output, while "productive" generally indicates efficiency and effectiveness in achieving results. A prolific writer may produce many books, whereas a productive worker efficiently completes their tasks.