non-profitable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "non-profitable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a business or venture that does not generate profit. Example: "The startup struggled to find its footing and ultimately remained non-profitable for its first three years."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Our new method may provide an approach for discriminating the contribution of external structural properties and efficiency per se, and for tailoring the finance method of non-profit hospitals under non-profitable external conditions without discouraging improvements in efficiency.

BMC Health Services Research

This would be a disaster for rural and non-profitable urban post offices".

The Guardian

Mr. Anderson said that between pressure from retailers to deliver good deals and pressure from publishers to distribute too many titles too cheaply wholesalers are living in a non-profitable purgatory.

The New York Times

The existing surviving companies are cutting out non-profitable spaces.

Forbes

With the present farmers' practices, yields have become static and system has become non-profitable.

Soil and Tillage Research

Energy management is therefore deemed a burden and non-profitable to the organization as a whole.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

This was less than 113,974.20 (17.6 %) ETB that could have been collected with PR equal to 1 which is in fact less than an ideal cost for non profitable public service price setting, though there is a need to mark up price is necessary.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

But this immensely profitable non-profit organization could do much more with its Zürich-based cash cow to support countries like Brazil.

The Guardian - Opinion

Apparently, some non-profits can be profitable for some.

Huffington Post

Don't laugh, but the corporations that own the news media would have to collectively agree to allow the news to become non-profit or significantly less profitable.

Huffington Post

Non-GAAP Profitable — What companies that are very unprofitable like to claim.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation as "non-profitable", clearly identify the entity or activity to which this term applies. For instance, specify "non-profitable business unit" or "non-profitable farming practice".

Common error

Avoid confusing "non-profitable" with "nonprofit". "Non-profitable" simply means that an activity or entity is not making money, while "nonprofit" refers to a specific type of organization whose primary goal is not to generate profit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "non-profitable" primarily functions as an adjective. It is used to describe something that does not generate profit or is not financially rewarding. This is evident in the Ludwig examples provided, where it modifies nouns such as "spaces", "entity", and "investment".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Reference

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "non-profitable" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective to describe something that does not generate profit. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage is well-established across various contexts. While "unprofitable" serves as a concise alternative, understanding the distinction between "non-profitable" and "nonprofit" is crucial. The phrase is frequently encountered in scientific, news, and business domains, highlighting its relevance in discussions related to financial performance and economic viability. When employing "non-profitable", ensure clarity by specifying the entity or activity being described, and consider alternative phrasings to enhance precision and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unprofitable

This alternative is a more common single-word synonym, directly indicating the absence of profit.

not profitable

This alternative expresses the concept directly using negation.

loss-making

This alternative highlights the generation of losses rather than the absence of profit.

in the red

This alternative is an idiomatic expression indicating financial losses or debt.

non-viable

This alternative suggests that the business or venture cannot sustain itself financially.

at a loss

This alternative describes a situation where expenses exceed revenue.

economically unsound

This alternative indicates that the venture is not financially stable or secure.

commercially unrewarding

This alternative emphasizes the lack of financial reward or benefit from a commercial standpoint.

not financially rewarding

This alternative focuses on the lack of monetary compensation or gain.

without return on investment

This alternative specifies the absence of a financial return on the resources invested.

FAQs

How can I use "non-profitable" in a sentence?

You can use "non-profitable" to describe activities or entities that are not generating profit. For example: "The new marketing campaign proved to be "non-profitable"."

What can I say instead of "non-profitable"?

You can use alternatives like "unprofitable", "not profitable", or "loss-making" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "non-profitable" or "unprofitable"?

Both "non-profitable" and "unprofitable" are correct and can be used interchangeably. "Unprofitable" is simply a more concise, single-word alternative.

What's the difference between "non-profitable" and "nonprofit"?

"Non-profitable" means something isn't making money, while "nonprofit" refers to an organization type. A "nonprofit" organization can still be profitable; the key difference is that any profits must be reinvested into the organization's mission rather than distributed to shareholders or owners.