profitable

[ prof-i-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. yielding profit; remunerative:

   a profitable deal.

2. beneficial or useful.

   Synonyms: helpful, valuable, advantageous

profitable

/ ˈprɒfɪtəbəl /

adjective

1. affording gain, benefit, or profit

Derived Forms

• ˈprofitably, adverb
• ˈprofitableness, noun

Other Words From

• profit·a·bili·ty profit·a·ble·ness noun
• profit·a·bly adverb
• nonprof·it·a·bili·ty noun
• non·profit·a·ble adjective
• non·profit·a·ble·ly adverb
• non·profit·a·ble·ness noun
• sub·profit·a·ble adjective
• sub·profit·a·ble·ness noun
• sub·profit·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of profitable¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English; profit + -able

Example Sentences

It’s been a little harder to understand than these other enterprise software stalwarts, but slowly but surely Box has shifted into a more efficient, and dare we say, profitable public company.

From TechCrunch

If USPS goes private, Cooper said rates will go up and service will not be the same, because they will make cuts based on what is profitable.

From Voice of San Diego

They’re not very profitable—at least not without government subsidies.

From Fortune

She also runs her own consulting firm, where she works creating inclusive and profitable communities.

From Washington Blade

It still aims to become EBITDA profitable in the fourth quarter of next year and will do so with 20%-25% fewer rides than it was initially counting on, according to Brian Roberts, Lyft’s chief financial officer.

From Quartz

This happens in the art world as well, where it can be more profitable to parcel off pieces of ancient vases.

From The Daily Beast

The answer is left unclear, but Diaspora is certainly intended to be profitable.

From The Daily Beast

That is approximately the same year the BBC predicted Moon mining could become commercially profitable.

From The Daily Beast

As Minister of Trade, he oversees TEPCO, which is attempting to put its profitable nuclear reactors back on-line.

From The Daily Beast

Doing so can be a very profitable endeavor, in a time of low interest rates.

From The Daily Beast

He did not find his new field of endeavor so profitable when he began to work among strangers.

From Project Gutenberg

To supply eminent humorists and others with enjoyable, rational, and profitable employment.

From Project Gutenberg

The cupidity of a man had evidently led him to collect together these odds and ends, and try to turn them to profitable account.

From Project Gutenberg

It still, I am glad to hear, runs an honorable and profitable course, which its merits well deserve.

From Project Gutenberg

Before the present law was in force, and the duties on tobacco were low, this scheme (p. 262) may have been profitable.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• beneficial
• commercial
• cost-effective
• effective
• fruitful
• good
• lucrative
• practical
• productive
• rewarding
• successful
• useful
• valuable
• worthwhile