counterproductive
/ˈkaʊntəpɹəˌdʌktɪv/KOWN-tur-pruh-duhk-tiv
/ˈkaʊntɚpɹəˌdʌktɪv/KOWN-tur-pruh-duhk-tiv
Meaningleading against (the aim)
Common meaning: having the opposite effect to the one wanted
- counteragainst, opposite
- proforward; forth
- ductto lead or draw alongLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 615 · scan
- iveadjective ending: tending to
‘against, opposite’ + ‘forward’ + ‘to lead or draw along’ → counterproductive
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Built on Latin dūcō ‘to lead or draw along’.
Roots
- dūcō, dūxī, ductum Latin “to lead or draw along”
Related words
aqueductconductdeduceeducateinduceirreduciblenondeductibleproduceproductiveproductivityreproducetransducer
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