unprofitable
Americanadjective
-
being without profit; not showing or turning a profit.
a series of unprofitable ventures.
-
pointless or futile.
an unprofitable three years in a routine job.
adjective
-
not making a profit
-
not fruitful or beneficial
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unprofitable
1275–1325; Middle English. See un- 1, profitable
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It is also closing unprofitable stores in North America.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Not only are many companies within the microcap index unprofitable, but many included biotech companies haven’t yet booked any revenue.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
Three-quarters of the latter were unprofitable at the time of their IPOs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
Although it is still unprofitable, the business is steadily gaining traction with customers.
From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026
Then they were silent again, for the idea of not having the ranch, the dry, stony desert of heartbreaking hillside and unprofitable hollow, was shocking to them.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
