profitable

adjective

prof·​it·​able ˈprä-fə-tə-bəl How to pronounce profitable (audio)
ˈpräf-tə-bəl
Synonyms of profitablenext
: affording profits : yielding advantageous returns or results

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
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.
While some analysts warn of an existential threat, others argue VW remains profitable, recalling past crises where drastic structural changes were avoided. Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Shrimp farming is often held up as a success story in that vein, a profitable adaptation to rising salinity. Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, The Dial, 7 July 2026 The most consistently profitable segment within NBCUniversal in recent years has been its theme parks. Robert Niles, Oc Register, 7 July 2026 The raise comes as the company surpasses $200 million in net revenue, grew over 50% year-over-year, and turned profitable. Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for profitable

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of profitable was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Profitable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profitable. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

profitable

adjective
prof·​it·​able ˈpräf-ət-ə-bəl How to pronounce profitable (audio)
ˈpräf-tə-bəl
: producing profit

Legal Definition

profitable

adjective
: affording profits : yielding advantageous returns or results
profitableness noun
profitably adverb

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