Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “counterproductive” come from?

Counterproductive comes from Middle English counter- combined with productive, tracing through Latin contra meaning "against" and duco meaning "to lead," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "to become" and "to go forward."

counterproductive (English): More of a hindrance than a help

Definitions

  1. More of a hindrance than a help

Ancestry of “counterproductive”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishproductiveCapable of producing something, especially in...
2Late Latinproductivusfit for prolongation lengthening; productive
3LatinproducoI lead or bring forth, forward or out; I conduct...
4Latinpro-forward direction, forward movement; action...
5Latinpro+ "ablative"; for; on behalf of, in the interest...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
8Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “counterproductive”

  • counterproductively
  • counterproductiveness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →