What is the Latin word for unproductive?

The usual Latin words for “unproductive” are īnfēcundus, sterilis. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“unproductive” in Latin

īnfēcundusunfruitful, infertile sterilisbarren, sterile; unprofitable, futile

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

unproductive

infecundus (seldom, but classical; ager arbore infecundus, Sall.; opposed to fecundus): sterilis (with reference to productive power; bearing no fruit; also of the soil, a year, etc.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for unproductive?: The usual Latin words for “unproductive” are īnfēcundus, sterilis. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.