profiteer

[ prof-i-teer ]

noun

1. a person who seeks or exacts exorbitant profits, especially through the sale of scarce or rationed goods.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as a profiteer.

profiteer

/ ˌprɒfɪˈtɪə /

noun

1. a person who makes excessive profits, esp by charging exorbitant prices for goods in short supply

verb

1. intr to make excessive profits

Derived Forms

• ˌprofiˈteering, noun

Other Words From

• anti·profi·teering adjective
• nonprof·it·eering noun
• unprof·it·eering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of profiteer¹

First recorded in 1910–15; profit + -eer

Example Sentences

Many liberals see Musk as a rapacious profiteer whose dealings with government are aimed at maximizing his income and evading responsibility.

From Time

The currency reform of December 1947 aimed to take excess cash out of circulation and penalize war profiteers.

From Washington Post

Here, we’re also introduced to the first of many faceless profiteers – ruthless but necessary to the journey – who gain from human desperation.

From Washington Blade

Philadelphia’s local real estate lobby launched a press campaign that sought to distinguish what the industry today calls “mom-and-pop landlords” from the popularly vilified “rent profiteers.”

From Washington Post

Indeed, some of the biggest profiteers from this week’s market action are asset managers like BlackRock, market-makers like Citadel, and the private equity giant Silver Lake.

From Quartz

In their eyes, Rove is more Wizard of Oz than Architect, more profiteer than player.

From The Daily Beast

Had he kept the money he will earn from his memoirs, he would surely have been condemned as some kind of war profiteer.

From The Daily Beast

The law of supply and demand, as applied to eggs, together with the local brand of profiteer, was the cause.

From Project Gutenberg

The speculation and graft were colossal, and beyond the most extravagant dreams of the British brand of war profiteer.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not my purpose to dwell upon those disgraceful landlords who profiteer.

From Project Gutenberg

I nearly asked if he was a little dog-fish—this being the Italian for profiteer, but refrained in time.

From Project Gutenberg

In the selfishness of the "profiteer," as we now call him, Punch sees a sure provocative of Communism.

From Project Gutenberg