is not profitable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is not profitable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the financial performance of a business, investment, or project that does not generate a profit. Example: "After reviewing the quarterly reports, we concluded that the current marketing strategy is not profitable and needs to be revised."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

However, the most that such a deviation can yield is profits (Pi ), and therefore is not profitable.

SERIEs

Private companies need to make profits, and social housing is not profitable in the short term.

Vice

The site is not profitable.

The New York Times

United is not profitable yet.

The New York Times

So far, the venture is not profitable.

The New York Times

"The plant is not profitable at present.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Vital Juice isn't profitable.

Forbes

"A lot of manufacturing isn't profitable.

Forbes

Nissan isn't profitable now, but it will be.

Forbes

Llewellyn said the company isn't profitable yet.

TechCrunch

Despite its age, the company still isn't profitable.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a business or investment, use "is not profitable" to clearly and directly state that it is not generating income. For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "is unprofitable" or "does not yield profit".

Common error

Avoid assuming that high revenue automatically implies profitability. Even with substantial revenue, a business "is not profitable" if its expenses exceed its income. Always consider the bottom line when using this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not profitable" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun (e.g., business, venture, investment) to indicate its financial status. It conveys that the entity in question is not generating a financial gain. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is not profitable" is a common and straightforward way to express that a business, investment, or activity isn't generating financial gain. Grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and business, it clearly indicates a lack of financial return. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

While simple, understanding when and how to use this phrase effectively is important. Consider using alternatives like "is unprofitable" or "does not yield profit" for a more formal tone. Also, remember that high revenue does not automatically mean a venture is profitable; profitability depends on whether revenue exceeds expenses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is unprofitable

Direct synonym, substituting "not profitable" with a single word with the same meaning.

does not yield profit

Rephrases the idea using "yield" to indicate producing a profit.

is not financially viable

Focuses on the financial sustainability of the venture.

is a losing proposition

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey the lack of profit.

operates at a loss

Indicates that the operation is incurring financial losses.

is not economically sound

Highlights the lack of economic stability or reason.

fails to generate revenue

Emphasizes the failure to produce income.

is unsustainable financially

Focuses on the long-term financial stability.

is not revenue-generating

Highlights the lack of income production.

is in the red

Uses an informal expression to indicate financial loss.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "is not profitable"?

When something "is not profitable", it means that the revenue generated does not exceed the costs and expenses incurred, resulting in a financial loss.

What can I say instead of "is not profitable"?

You can use alternatives like "is unprofitable", "does not yield profit", or "operates at a loss", depending on the context.

How do I determine if a business "is not profitable"?

To determine if a business "is not profitable", compare its total revenues to its total expenses. If expenses exceed revenues, the business "is not profitable".

Is there a difference between "is not profitable" and "is breaking even"?

Yes, "is not profitable" means the business is losing money, while "is breaking even" means revenue equals expenses, resulting in neither profit nor loss.