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

In these three examples, the money market account will be more profitable in one, the CD account will be more profitable in another, and the returns will be equal in a third. —Matt Richardson, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026

Spirit’s ultra‑low‑cost carrier model — rock‑bottom base fares paired with fees for nearly everything else — was highly profitable in the 2010s. —Mike Diamond, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026

More importantly, the segment has been profitable for all four quarters of 2025. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 19 Feb. 2026

Ruchti echoed that, arguing that people who become judges give up profitable private practices or other jobs for a pay cut to do public service. —Idaho Statesman, 19 Feb. 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