profiteering

American  

[pro-fi-teer-ing] / ˌprɒ fɪˈtɪər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or practice of seeking exorbitant profits, especially through the sale of scarce or rationed goods.

   The companies who raised prices before, during, or after the hurricane were charged with profiteering.

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Etymology

Origin of profiteering

First recorded in 1810–15; profit ( def. ) + -eer ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Allegations of profiteering have accompanied it from the start.

From Barron's

The watchdog is currently gathering evidence on whether fuel providers are profiteering, and it will be some time before it comes to a conclusion.

From BBC

A spokesman told the Financial Times that it did not "tolerate any administration official illegally profiteering off of insider knowledge".

From BBC

The New Yorker has estimated the family’s total profiteering to be worth around $4 billion, with the lion’s share coming from the Gulf monarchies.

From Salon

And for good measure, there's already been a very public tiff with the industry, after ministers started talking about price gouging and profiteering.

From BBC

Related Words

• crooked
• fraudulent
• nefarious
• rotten
• shady
• unethical
• unscrupulous
• untrustworthy
• venal