lucrative

American  

[loo-kruh-tiv] / ˈlu krə tɪv /

adjective

1. profitable; moneymaking; remunerative.

   a lucrative business.

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lucrative British  

/ ˈluːkrətɪv /

adjective

1. producing a profit; profitable; remunerative

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Other Word Forms

• lucratively adverb
• lucrativeness noun
• nonlucrative adjective
• nonlucratively adverb
• nonlucrativeness noun
• unlucrative adjective

Etymology

Origin of lucrative

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English lucratif, from Middle French, from Latin lucrātīvus “gainful,” from lucrāt(us) “profited” (past participle of lucrārī “to make a profit, gain by economy”; see lucre) + -īvus -ive

Explanation

Use lucrative to refer to a business or investment that makes money. While your parents might want you to pursue a lucrative career, you're committed to your plan of becoming a professional mime. This adjective is from the Latin word lucrum, meaning "profit." In Latin, lucrum also meant "greed," a negative sense preserved in the English phrase filthy lucre, or "shameful profit or gain." But the word lucrative doesn't carry a similar sense of shame — if your lawn-mowing job proves lucrative over the summer, you might be able to buy yourself a used car.

Example Sentences

According to Sheets’ cast bio, the antiques enthusiast loved to brag about “four Picassos and the world’s most lucrative comic book collection” that he scored through storage auctions.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Chinese carmakers have quickly built up their presence in the lucrative European auto market, buoyed by technological advances their competitors are trying to copy, and analysts say their next step is to begin producing locally.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Each of these failures was in direct violation of the Army’s written safety measures agreed to by Fluor in the lucrative contract signed with the federal government.

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2026

He became a regular on a training circuit where speakers received lucrative contracts from international governments and law enforcement agencies to teach about the threat of militant Islamist movements.

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026

Jack Neylan and Rowan Gaither steered him away from most of these, including a lucrative invitation to join the Monsanto Company board.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• advantageous
• fruitful
• good
• money-making
• profitable
• worthwhile