profit

[ prof-it ]

noun

1. Often profits.
   1. pecuniary gain resulting from the employment of capital in any transaction. Compare gross profit, net profit.
   2. the ratio of such pecuniary gain to the amount of capital invested.
   3. returns, proceeds, or revenue, as from property or investments.

   Synonyms: return

   Antonyms: loss

2. the monetary surplus left to a producer or employer after deducting wages, rent, cost of raw materials, etc.:

   The company works on a small margin of profit.

   Synonyms: net income

3. advantage; benefit; gain.

   Synonyms: worth, use, avail, good

verb (used without object)

1. to gain an advantage or benefit:

   He profited greatly from his schooling.

2. to make a profit.
3. to take advantage:

   to profit from the weaknesses of others.

4. to be of service or benefit.
5. to make progress.

verb (used with object)

1. to be of advantage or profit to:

   Nothing profits one so much as a sound education.

   Synonyms: help, advance

profit

/ ˈprɒfɪt /

noun

1. often plural excess of revenues over outlays and expenses in a business enterprise over a given period of time, usually a year
2. the monetary gain derived from a transaction
3. 1. income derived from property or an investment, as contrasted with capital gains
   2. the ratio of this income to the investment or principal
4. economics
   1. the income or reward accruing to a successful entrepreneur and held to be the motivating factor of all economic activity in a capitalist economy
   2. ( as modifier )

      the profit motive

5. a gain, benefit, or advantage

verb

1. to gain or cause to gain profit

Derived Forms

• ˈprofitless, adjective
• ˈprofiter, noun

Other Words From

• profit·er noun
• profit·less adjective
• profit·less·ly adverb
• profit·less·ness noun
• pro·profit adjective
• self-profit noun
• un·profit·ed adjective
• un·profit·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of profit¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the noun) Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin prōfectus “progress, profit,” noun use of past participle of prōficere “to make progress,” from prō- pro- ¹ + -ficere, combining form of facere “to do, make” ( fact ); verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of profit¹

C14: from Latin prōfectus advance, from prōficere to make progress; see proficient

Example Sentences

If there’s one Musk business that could profit the most from the incoming Trump administration, it’s SpaceX.

From Los Angeles Times

The company on Tuesday said it anticipates earning a full-year profit in 2024, which would make this Spotify’s first profitable year ever.

From Los Angeles Times

The average price of a pint of draught lager in the UK was £4.47 in September, according to the Office for National Statistics, but the British Beer and Pub Association recently revealed that landlords make 12p profit per pint.

From BBC

"There’s no way a sector like ours can carry this level of cost and just absorb it as profit," he added.

From BBC

Speaking of supporters who stand to profit …

From Slate

Related Words

• contribute
• earn
• improve
• pay off
• prosper
• take advantage of
• thrive