The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word LEANER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
L
E
A
N
E
R
More clues leading to the result LEANER
- Daily scrapping first section to be less bulky
- Less productive student lacking one of the basics?
- Less productive apprentice runs away
- One who’s inclined to be thinner
- . After losing bit of chubbiness, home help is not so fat
- Daily, maybe, after cutting leader less profitable
- Less productive student deficient in one of the R’s
- Someone not quite upright but more efficient?
- What student losing bit in the middle becomes
- Something not self-standing that’s reduced by some pounds?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Less productive" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case less productive = leaner.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does LEANER mean?
LEANER adjective- (of a person or animal) Slim; not fleshy.
- (of meat) Having little fat.
- Having little extra or little to spare; scanty; meagre.
- Having a low proportion or concentration of a desired substance or ingredient.
- Of a character which prevents the compositor from earning the usual wages; opposed to fat.
- Efficient, economic, frugal, agile, slimmed-down; pertaining to the modern industrial principles of "lean manufacturing"
- One who leans, or inclines toward something.