profitable

adjective

prof·​it·​able ˈprä-fə-tə-bəl 

ˈpräf-tə-bəl

: affording profits : yielding advantageous returns or results

profitability

ˌprä-fə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

profitableness

ˈprä-fə-tə-bəl-nəs 

noun

profitably

ˈprä-fə-tə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• lucrative
• worthwhile

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

However, thankfully, the same companies that produced those chemicals, such as Dupont, found suitable and profitable alternatives. —Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

But the Trump administration is jettisoning this profitable and steady business model in favor of one that reinforces the opposite cycle. —Adam S. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025

There’s also reason to think that in the Southeast, as people abandoned less profitable farms during the 20th century and forests regrew, that too muted warming. —Chris Mooney, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025

Low-cost housing, while it is encouraged by the city and the state, is not profitable enough to attract builders. —Nicholas Pileggi, Curbed, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for profitable

• unprofitable

Kids Definition

profitable

adjective

prof·​it·​able ˈpräf-ət-ə-bəl 

ˈpräf-tə-bəl

: producing profit

profitably

-blē 

adverb

Legal Definition

profitable

adjective

prof·​it·​able ˈprä-fə-tə-bəl 

: affording profits : yielding advantageous returns or results

profitability

ˌprä-fə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

profitableness noun

profitably adverb