profit motive

noun

: the desire to make a profit
making decisions based on the profit motive

Examples of profit motive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, courts have determined that to meet the criteria, a primary profit motive is required. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 And profit motive and patient care mix about as well as oil and water. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025 Unlike commercial media, where the profit motive often creates incentives to emphasize conflict and sensationalism, public media generally seeks to provide balanced perspectives that encourage dialogue and mutual respect. Stephanie A, The Conversation, 21 July 2025 During the first Trump administration, the notion that Washington might deliver Venezuela from Maduro didn’t seem all that far-fetched (and didn’t seem to require a profit motive). Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for profit motive

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Profit motive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profit%20motive. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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