1
Abundant quantity
A very large amount or number.
Example
A profusion of wildflowers covered the slope.
profusion
/prəˈfjuːʒən/ · pruh-FYOO-zhuhnnoun
A large and often lavish abundance of something.
Use profusion when the context supports this precise sense: a large and often lavish abundance of something.
What profusion Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Lavish display
Rich abundance that creates a strong visual effect.
Example
The hall contained a profusion of carved detail.
3
Excessive output
An amount so great that it may overwhelm.
Example
The report’s profusion of examples obscures its main claim.
Use profusion Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
A profusion of wildflowers covered the slope.
The hall contained a profusion of carved detail.
The report’s profusion of examples obscures its main claim.
Precision Matters
Profusion overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
profusion
vs.Means a large and often lavish abundance of something.
paucity
Means a scarcity or insufficient amount of something.
profusion
vs.Means a large and often lavish abundance of something.
myriad
Means countless or extremely numerous; a very large number.
profusion
vs.Means a large and often lavish abundance of something.
copious
Means abundant or plentiful in quantity.
profusion
vs.Means a large and often lavish abundance of something.
scarcity
Means a shortage or insufficient supply.
Test profusion in Context
The garden contains a rich abundance of flowers.
1
Rather than leaving the garden austere, the designer planted a ___ of flowering species that produced colour in every season.