profit

play

noun, often attributive prof·it \ˈprä-fət\

Definition of profit

1 : a valuable return : gain
2 : the excess of returns over expenditure in a transaction or series of transactions; especially : the excess of the selling price of goods over their cost
3 : net income usually for a given period of time
4 : the ratio of profit for a given year to the amount of capital invested or to the value of sales
5 : the compensation accruing to entrepreneurs for the assumption of risk in business enterprise as distinguished from wages or rent

profitless

play \-ləs\ adjective

profitwise

play \-ˌwīz\ adverb

See profit defined for English-language learners

See profit defined for kids

Examples of profit in a Sentence

The company made a profit this year.
Profits are up from last year.
There was a rise in profits this year.
The profits from CD sales were donated to charity.
The organization is not run for profit.
The film made $1,000,000 in profit.
The book can be read with profit by anyone who wants to understand how the system works.

Origin and Etymology of profit

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin profectus advance, profit, from proficere

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

profit

verb prof·it

Definition of profit

intransitive verb
1 : to be of service or advantage : avail
2 : to derive benefit : gain
3 : to make a profit
transitive verb
: to be of service to : benefit

See profit defined for English-language learners

Examples of profit in a Sentence

It would profit him to take some computer classes.
The company has profited by selling its products online.
He profited greatly from his investments.
The island profits from tourism.

14th Century

First Known Use of profit

14th century

PROFIT Defined for English Language Learners

profit

play

noun

Definition of profit for English Language Learners

: money that is made in a business, through investing, etc., after all the costs and expenses are paid : a financial gain
: the advantage or benefit that is gained from doing something

profit

verb

Definition of profit for English Language Learners

: to get an advantage or benefit from something
: to be an advantage to (someone) : to help (someone)
: to earn or get money by or from something

PROFIT Defined for Kids

profit

play

noun prof·it \ˈprä-fət\

Definition of profit for Students

1 : the gain after all the expenses are subtracted from the total amount received Their business shows a profit of $100 a week.
2 : the gain or benefit from something She began to see the profit of exercising.

profitless

\-ləs\ adjective

profit

play

verb prof·it

Definition of profit for Students

profited

;

profiting

1 : to get some good out of something : gain You'll profit from the experience.
2 : to be of use to (someone) The agreement profited us all.

Law Dictionary

profit

noun prof·it

Legal Definition of profit

1 : gain in excess of expenditures: as a : the excess of the selling price of goods over their cost b : net income from a business, investment, or capital appreciation — compare earnings, loss
2 : a benefit or advantage from the use of property