nonprofit

American  

[non-prof-it] / nɒnˈprɒf ɪt /

adjective

1. not established for the purpose of making a profit; not entered into for money.

   a nonprofit institution.

---

noun

• nonprofits
  plural

1. a nonprofit organization, institution, corporation, or other entity.

nonprofit British  

/ nɒnˈprɒfɪt /

adjective

1. another word for non-profit-making

---

noun

1. an organization that is not intended to make a profit

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• nonprofits
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of nonprofit

First recorded in 1900–05; non- + profit

---

Compare meaning

How does nonprofit compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• nonprofit vs. not-for-profit
• for-profit vs. nonprofit

---

Explanation

A business or organization is nonprofit if its main purpose isn't making money for its owners. Nonprofit companies usually raise money for charities. You can use the word nonprofit as an adjective or a noun — a nonprofit is an organization that benefits some public good, rather than raising revenue for stockholders or owners. There are educational nonprofits, religious nonprofits, public health nonprofits, and many others. The word's been around since the 1920s, combining non, or "not," with profit, from the Latin root profectus, "advance, increase, success, or progress."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nonprofit nonprofits

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026

Bass said she formed the nonprofit Community Coalition in 1990 to push back against Gates’ practice of conducting mass arrests on weekends in South L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

"AI can also have a detrimental impact on climate change from that angle," said Maria Joao Sousa, executive director of Climate Change AI, a nonprofit promoting the use of AI for climate action.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

She met the third victim, prosecutors said, after she cold-called him to solicit donations for her nonprofit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

In February 1989, Eva Ansley and I opened our new nonprofit law center in Tuscaloosa, dedicated to providing free, quality legal services to condemned men and women on death row in Alabama.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Stakeholders currently are defined as anyone who lives, works or owns real property within the neighborhood boundaries, or community organizations like chambers of commerce or nonprofits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

City officials said they looked into the nonprofits after receiving complaints and learned that Metro Little League created the academy to run its clinics, allowing it to use the fields year-round.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Several nonprofits have launched venture groups to help biotechs advance early-stage science, connect with patients and attract additional investors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

The philanthropic funder has since rebranded itself as Coefficient Giving, and is a prolific backer of AI safety nonprofits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

Corporate sponsors, green technology partners, and microfinance nonprofits have helped fill the funding gap, and individual contributions are more important than ever.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• unsuccessful
• worthless

---