non-profit-making

USAGE SUMMARY

"non-profit-making" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe organizations or activities that do not aim to generate profit. Example: "The non-profit-making organization focuses on community development." Alternative expressions include "non-profit" and "not-for-profit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

They are non-sectarian, non-political, and non-profit-making.

The New Yorker

By law, councils can only delegate adoption services to non-profit-making registered adoption charities.

The Guardian

Now run independently on a non-profit-making basis, it certifies 94 fisheries globally.

Independent

The site is funded entirely by donations and run as a charity by the non-profit-making Wikimedia Foundation.

The Guardian

Free schools are non-profit-making, independent, state-funded schools run entirely outside the control of local authorities.

The Guardian

These are often run for a profit (although badly organised non-profit-making schemes may be just as harmful).

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

In the same year, together with MTR Corporation, the company was transformed from its previous non-profit making status to a profit making enterprise.

Wikipedia

Presuming a non-profit making met office.

The Guardian - Sport

"When I started Milk! Records it was a pretty non-profit making venture.

The Guardian - Music

It was opposed by the AUT who believed performance-related pay was anathema to a non-profit making organisation.

The Guardian

The non-profit making models I'd want to encourage would have none of that incentive to wait".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose this specific variant in British English contexts or formal academic papers to provide a high level of descriptive precision regarding financial status.

Common error

Do not use "non-profit-making" to describe a business that is simply failing to earn a profit (a "loss-making" business). This phrase identifies the legal and structural purpose of an entity, not its accidental financial results.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "non-profit-making" serves as a compound adjective used to modify nouns like "organization", "foundation", or "body". According to Ludwig, it functions to specify the structural intent of an entity. Its hyphenated structure is essential for grammatical clarity when it precedes the noun it modifies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "non-profit-making" is an established and grammatically correct compound adjective. Analysis from Ludwig AI reveals that it is a preferred choice in British English and academic circles for defining entities that do not distribute profits. While shorter alternatives like "non-profit" exist, this three-part hyphenated form offers a formal weight suitable for news reporting and scientific research. It is most frequently used to describe hospitals, schools and international foundations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

non-profit

Uses a more concise form, very common in American English.

not-for-profit

Emphasizes the intent of the organization rather than just the outcome.

charitable

Specifically implies a philanthropic or social benefit mission.

non-commercial

Focuses on the lack of trade or business-oriented objectives.

altruistic

Shifts focus to the selfless motivation behind the activity.

tax-exempt

Refers to the legal fiscal status rather than the operational goal.

voluntary

Suggests that the organization is run by choice or by unpaid staff.

non-governmental

Describes independence from the state, often used in international aid.

social enterprise

Implies a business model that reinvests profits into a social mission.

mission-driven

Highlights that the goals are oriented toward a specific cause.

FAQs

What is the difference between "non-profit-making" and "non-profit"?

While they are essentially interchangeable, "non-profit-making" is more common in British English and formal reports. You can use the shorter "non-profit" for a more modern or Americanized tone.

Should I use hyphens in "non-profit-making"?

Yes, it is standard to use hyphens to link the three parts of this compound adjective. Omitting them can lead to ambiguity in formal writing.

Can I use "not-for-profit" instead?

Yes, "not-for-profit" is a highly professional alternative that is often preferred in legal and accounting contexts to describe the specific tax status of an organization.

Is "non-profit-making" formal or informal?

It is a highly formal term. It frequently appears in authoritative sources like The Economist and various medical journals, making it ideal for business and academic writing.