profitable

adjective

prof·​it·​able ˈprä-fə-tə-bəl 

ˈpräf-tə-bəl

: affording profits : yielding advantageous returns or results

profitability

ˌprä-fə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

profitableness

ˈprä-fə-tə-bəl-nəs 

noun

profitably

ˈprä-fə-tə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms of profitable

• lucrative
• worthwhile

Examples of profitable in a Sentence

The movie was very profitable.

selling real estate on the side turned out to be a profitable venture for the stay-at-home mom

Recent Examples on the Web

As Apple's profitable services business grew, its gross margin expanded, hitting 40% in 2021 and growing from there. — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

Meanwhile, as hip-house took hold Stateside, those who had licked a new sonic language weren’t going to sit a profitable wave out. — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 2 Nov. 2026

Other interviewees remembered a time when families seeking husbands for their daughters preferred sons of party cadres; today, a man with access to foreign currency or a profitable business can be much more desirable. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026

Even after the sell-off, the trade remains profitable for taxpayers. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for profitable

• unprofitable

Kids Definition

profitable

adjective

prof·​it·​able ˈpräf-ət-ə-bəl 

ˈpräf-tə-bəl

: producing profit

profitably

-blē 

adverb

Legal Definition

profitable

adjective

prof·​it·​able ˈprä-fə-tə-bəl 

: affording profits : yielding advantageous returns or results

profitability

ˌprä-fə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

profitableness noun

profitably adverb