unprofitable
Americanadjective
-
being without profit; not showing or turning a profit.
a series of unprofitable ventures.
-
pointless or futile.
an unprofitable three years in a routine job.
adjective
-
not making a profit
-
not fruitful or beneficial
Other Word Forms
- unprofitability noun
- unprofitableness noun
- unprofitably adverb
Etymology
Origin of unprofitable
1275–1325; Middle English. See un- 1, profitable
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.
Satellite operators could also help wireless providers bring service to rural or remote areas that have been historically unprofitable for service expansions.
From MarketWatch
The firm has been trying to move away from letter delivery, which it has said is unprofitable, but is it obliged to deliver letters to all parts of the UK.
From BBC
SVB offered many start-ups a form of credit that other banks found too risky, since the young companies are generally unprofitable.
From New York Times
It "can either turn out to be lucrative or unprofitable for some banks depending on the key positions that they have taken," he said.
From Reuters
But the company remains unprofitable and carries a large debt.
From New York Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
