lucrative
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lucrative
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English lucratif, from Middle French, from Latin lucrātīvus “gainful,” from lucrāt(us) “profited” (past participle of lucrārī “to make a profit, gain by economy”; see lucre) + -īvus -ive
Explanation
Use lucrative to refer to a business or investment that makes money. While your parents might want you to pursue a lucrative career, you're committed to your plan of becoming a professional mime. This adjective is from the Latin word lucrum, meaning "profit." In Latin, lucrum also meant "greed," a negative sense preserved in the English phrase filthy lucre, or "shameful profit or gain." But the word lucrative doesn't carry a similar sense of shame — if your lawn-mowing job proves lucrative over the summer, you might be able to buy yourself a used car.
Vocabulary lists containing lucrative
Grade 10, List 2
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Hidden Figures
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Fast Food Nation
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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.
The 50-year-old’s death came on the eve of what was to be an ambitious and potentially lucrative rehabilitation of his career after years of controversy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026
Still, the Toy Story series is one of Pixar's most lucrative franchises, having raked in more than $3bn at the global box office since audiences were introduced to Woody and Buzz in 1995.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
The deal aligns with AbbVie’s highly lucrative immunology business, which is largely driven by the success of its blockbuster drug Skyrizi.
From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026
Alison-Madueke had also been accused by prosecutors of enjoying a "life of luxury" funded by those interested in the lucrative oil and gas contracts.
From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026
Things had gone pretty well for a few centuries, and he’d built up quite a lucrative aboveground memorabilia business.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
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.
