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

Shaped by for-profit viral and ad-targeting algorithms, it was drawn to ideas that were lurid, divisive, and provocative. —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026

If Musk prevails, the court could undo the company’s delicate restructuring of its for-profit arm—a decision that would jeopardize tens of billions in investor funding. —Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026

Unlike other big tech companies, OpenAI began as a nonprofit with a for-profit subsidiary overseen by a nonprofit board of directors. —Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026

California privacy law specifically requires certain large for-profit companies to get consent to collect data from anyone under 16. —Adam Echelman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 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