Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

for-profit

adjective for-prof·it \ ˈfȯr-ˈprä-fət \

Definition of for-profit

: established, maintained, or conducted for the purpose of making a profit
  • for-profit businesses

See for-profit defined for English-language learners

See for-profit defined for kids

First Known Use of for-profit

1939

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

FOR-PROFIT Defined for English Language Learners

for-profit

adjective

Definition of for-profit for English Language Learners

  • : existing or done for the purpose of making a profit

Learn More about for-profit

  1. See words that rhyme with for-profit

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up for-profit? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

gaffer

play

a lighting electrician on a movie set

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  2. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  3. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

  4. emolument 'the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites'

  5. troll 'to harass, criticize, or antagonize especially by disparaging or mocking public statements'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

for-profit

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens-painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games