least profitable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "least profitable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the profitability of different options, products, or investments, indicating the one that generates the lowest profit. Example: "After analyzing the sales data, we found that the new product line was the least profitable among all our offerings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Segment customers from most to least profitable.

Harvard Business Review

China's banks are among the world's least profitable.

The Economist

PSG is the least profitable division in percentage terms.

The Guardian - Tech

Many retailers have been exiting their least profitable mall locations.

The New York Times

It is the least profitable of the world's big oil firms, reckons Credit Suisse.

The Economist

It's a vexing paradox: an artist's most important promotional tool proves to be the least profitable.

The New Yorker

It is the behemoth retailer's least profitable business, Mr. Dreher has reported.

The New York Times

China, despite its position as the world's largest beer market, is the world's least profitable.

The Economist

The least profitable drillers are going bust but others are ploughing ahead.

The Economist

The safest but potentially least profitable way to acquire foreclosed properties is from the lender.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Second prong: Get rid of the least-profitable operations.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing multiple options, ensure the context clearly defines what 'profit' entails (e.g., gross profit, net profit, return on investment) for accurate comparison.

Common error

Don't assume "least profitable" means "unprofitable". It simply indicates the option with the lowest profit margin compared to others, even if it's still generating some profit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "least profitable" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun to describe something that yields the smallest profit compared to other options. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "least profitable" is a grammatically sound and widely used term to describe something yielding the lowest financial return when compared to others. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's frequently found in news, business, and scientific contexts. When using "least profitable", ensure a clear definition of 'profit' and avoid confusing it with "unprofitable", which implies a loss. Related terms include "most unprofitable" and "lowest earning", offering nuanced ways to convey varying degrees of profitability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unprofitable

Simply states that something is not profitable.

most unprofitable

Replaces "least" with "most" and reverses the polarity to indicate maximum lack of profitability.

lowest earning

Focuses on earnings as the measure of profitability, indicating the lowest amount earned.

minimum profit

Emphasizes the minimal level of profit achieved.

low-profit

Uses a hyphenated adjective to describe something with low profitability.

marginally profitable

Indicates that something is only barely profitable.

not very profitable

A more direct way of saying something lacks profitability.

unremunerative

A more formal term suggesting a lack of financial reward or profit.

loss-making

Highlights that something is generating losses rather than profits.

barely breaking even

Suggests that something is only just covering its costs, with minimal profit.

FAQs

How can I use "least profitable" in a sentence?

You can use "least profitable" to compare the profitability of different options. For example: "After analyzing the sales data, we found that the new product line was the "least profitable" among all our offerings".

What are some alternatives to saying "least profitable"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "most unprofitable", "lowest earning", or "unprofitable".

Which is correct: "least profitable" or "less profitable"?

Both "least profitable" and "less profitable" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Least profitable" implies a comparison among three or more options, identifying the one with the absolute lowest profit. "Less profitable" implies a comparison between two options.

What's the difference between "unprofitable" and "least profitable"?

"Unprofitable" means not generating any profit, while "least profitable" means generating the lowest profit compared to other options. An unprofitable venture is making a loss, whereas a "least profitable" venture might still be making some profit, just less than others.