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Synonyms

lucrative

American  
[loo-kruh-tiv] / ˈlu krə tɪv /

adjective

  1. profitable; moneymaking; remunerative.

    a lucrative business.


lucrative British  
/ ˈluːkrətɪv /

adjective

  1. producing a profit; profitable; remunerative

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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”; lucre ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A global risk would be that Iran embraces the tolls it recently started charging for each tanker passing through the strait as a new, lucrative income stream, he said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

This exploration could have a vast, potentially lucrative economic angle at a time when both countries are locked in trade tensions.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Ross Pomerantz, a former Oracle employee, has carved out a lucrative niche in a crowded creator economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

The Bottom Line: While the Middle East has emerged as a lucrative market for many tech companies in recent years, the Americas remains their biggest source of revenue.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

They were waiting for me to come to my senses and realize that I was in a very lucrative business.

From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin