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

Other Word Forms

• profitability noun
• profitableness noun
• profitably adverb
• nonprofitability noun
• nonprofitable adjective
• nonprofitablely adverb
• nonprofitableness noun
• subprofitable adjective
• subprofitableness noun
• subprofitably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of profitable¹

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

Example Sentences

Banking in America is a barely profitable and highly fragile industry that may soon cease to exist if the government doesn’t introduce onerous rules that hurt consumers, throttle technology and deter competition.

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AI may provide the tools or algorithms for investors to choose investments in companies that aren’t only profitable but well managed.

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But no matter who ends up owning the European franchises, the NBA expects the teams to be more profitable than what’s currently in place.

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And they have said that high tariffs, combined with government support for new production facilities in the U.S., could make domestic manufacturing of generic drugs profitable.

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But today their banks are bigger and more profitable than ever.

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Related Words

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