for-profit

adjective

for-prof·​it ˈfȯr-ˈprä-fət 

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

for-profit businesses

Examples of for-profit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of his supporters harbor deep frustration and anger at the American for-profit healthcare system. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

That rule was largely started to reimburse students that went to for-profit colleges, it's now being applied to nonprofit colleges. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

The company restructured itself into a primarily for-profit business last year, largely betraying its non-profit roots. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 12 Aug. 2026

Then, in September, the Rhodes family, which owned the for-profit school for nearly 80 years, transferred ownership to the nonprofit SVA Alumni Society. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for for-profit

• nonprofit
• profit
• prophet
• soffit

Kids Definition

for-profit

adjective

for-prof·​it

ˈfȯr-ˈpräf-ət

: existing or carried on for the purpose of making a profit

for-profit business