unprofitable

[uhn-prof-i-tuh-buhl]

adjective

1. being without profit; not showing or turning a profit.

   a series of unprofitable ventures.

2. pointless or futile.

   an unprofitable three years in a routine job.

unprofitable

/ ʌnˈprɒfɪtəbəl /

adjective

1. not making a profit

2. not fruitful or beneficial

Other Word Forms

• unprofitableness noun
• unprofitability noun
• unprofitably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of unprofitable¹

1275–1325; Middle English. See un- ¹, profitable

Example Sentences

They say their biggest fear is that the federal government will try to turn them into financial utilities that can’t fire an unprofitable client.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

He added: "Our services' aim is to seize the largest possible quantities of contraband and to detain organisers and perpetrators so that this activity is unprofitable and does not pose a risk to civil aviation."

Read more on BBC

Mr Smith continued that many of Poundland's stores were "unprofitable at their current rents", with the company paying "higher than market rates for a significant number" of its sites.

Read more on BBC

Pepco said it was effectively offloading an unprofitable part of the business.

Read more on BBC

Village Roadshow also conceded that its ambitious push into producing independent films and television programs before the pandemic was unprofitable, exacerbating its financial woes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fruitless 
• futile 
• idle 
• useless