Profitable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Profitable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that generates profit or financial gain, often in a business context. Example: "The new marketing strategy proved to be highly profitable, increasing our revenue significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Johnston is at least profitable, earning £30.8m operating profit before exceptionals, but the company is desperate to pay down its £330m debt load by £40m a year.

The Guardian

Its new "country snapshot" shows Luxembourg was the most profitable country after the UK, where it reported £4.9bn of profits.

The Guardian - Business

In 2012, a bidding war for GMG Radio – the third largest radio group in the UK – resulted in Global Radio paying £70m for the barely profitable operation.

The Guardian

And they need to question whether they are focusing more on creating a profitable labour force than they are on ensuring the well-being of their students.

The Guardian

In the same month, Wonga appoints Andy Haste as chairman, who scraps the puppets and other light-hearted advertising straight away, and says the firm is going to get smaller and less profitable.

The Guardian - Business

The pharmaceutical sector is one in which a yawning gap separates laboratory research on the one hand and profitable products on the other.

The Guardian - Opinion

Production outside the US remained profitable, but the earnings fell by more than half.

The Guardian - Business

We don't expect [Little Red] to be by itself hugely profitable but to add total value to our network - by creating local traffic, but mostly by connecting these three airports to the world".

The Guardian - Business

Harvest, his latest novel, dramatises one of the great under-told narratives of English history: the forced enclosure of open fields and common land from the late medieval era on, whereby subsistence agriculture was replaced by profitable wool production and the peasant farmers dispossessed and displaced.

The Guardian - Books

It was as if hip-hop had agreed that jewellery, girls and cars were safe to rap about: the profitable gun-free future became mapped out as one long P Diddy nightmare of fur coats and samples from Police tracks, drifting into the horizon like the video of I'll Be Missing You.

The Guardian - Music

David Stevens's first job was as a trainee in a merchant bank, and his great claim to fame was in building up a pension fund manager, Montagu Investment Management (MIM), which became a sizeable and profitable company.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a business or investment, use "Profitable" to emphasize its financial success and ability to generate earnings. For instance, "The company's new product line proved to be highly profitable".

Common error

Avoid using "Profitable" when you mean "proficient", which describes skill or competence, not financial gain. Remember, "profitable" relates to money, while "proficient" relates to ability.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "Profitable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that generates financial gain or profit. Ludwig's examples show its use in various contexts, always relating to earnings or financial viability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "Profitable" is a common and grammatically correct adjective used to describe something that generates financial gain. Ludwig highlights its prevalence in news, business, and financial contexts. While synonyms like "lucrative" and "gainful" exist, "Profitable" maintains a neutral register, making it widely applicable. Remember to distinguish it from "proficient", which refers to skill, not financial success. Ludwig AI confirms the word is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Lucrative

Emphasizes the generation of substantial profit.

Financially rewarding

Highlights the monetary benefits received.

Yielding a profit

Focuses on the act of producing a profit.

Income-generating

Describes something that creates income.

Revenue-producing

Highlights the creation of revenue.

Gainful

Indicates providing a source of gain or profit.

Remunerative

Stresses the compensation or payment received.

Economically viable

Highlights the economic sustainability.

Commercially successful

Emphasizes success in a business context.

Making money

A more informal way to describe profitability.

FAQs

How can I use "Profitable" in a sentence?

You can use "Profitable" to describe something that generates a profit. For example, "The new business venture proved to be highly profitable." It emphasizes the financial gains or earnings from that particular entity.

What are some synonyms for "Profitable"?

Alternatives for "Profitable" include "lucrative", "gainful", and "remunerative". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "more profitable" or "most profitable"?

Yes, "Profitable" is an adjective that can be used in comparative and superlative forms. "More profitable" is used to compare two things, while "most profitable" is used to describe something as the highest-earning among a group.

What is the difference between "Profitable" and "Beneficial"?

"Profitable" specifically refers to financial gain, while "beneficial" means advantageous or helpful in a broader sense. Something can be beneficial without being profitable, and vice versa.