operated at a loss

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "operated at a loss" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used in the context of business operations, finance, and accounting. For example, "The company operated at a loss in its first year, but it was able to turn a profit after making several changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

It operated at a loss before 2013.

The New Yorker

But the group never operated at a loss".

The Guardian

Because, in part, of underpayment, half of American hospitals operated at a loss in 2007.

The New Yorker

The 2014 ball operated at a loss; attendance in 2015 was down further.

The Washington Post

The previous year it had operated at a loss of $1.7 million.

Harvard Business Review

The railroad operated at a loss of $14.6‐ million in the first half this year.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Rather than approaching profitability, the company was operating at a loss of $1 million a month.

The New York Times - Magazine

Many new airports operate at a loss.

The Economist

For several months it was operating at a loss.

The New York Times

"All of my members are operating at a loss".

The New York Times

Lately the company has been operating at a loss.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a company's financial performance, use "operated at a loss" to clearly indicate that the company's expenses exceeded its revenue. This phrase is best suited for business or economic contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "operated at a loss" in informal settings. While grammatically correct, it sounds overly formal when you could simply say "lost money" or "wasn't profitable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "operated at a loss" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that the subject (e.g. a company, organization, or event) experienced financial losses during its operations. This is corroborated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Science

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "operated at a loss" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a business or organization that has spent more money than it has earned. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for use in formal, professional, and neutral contexts, particularly in news reports, business analyses, and encyclopedic entries. While semantically similar phrases like "failed to turn a profit" or "incurred a financial deficit" can be used as alternatives, "operated at a loss" provides a clear and direct indication of financial underperformance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incurred a financial deficit

Focuses on the shortfall in monetary terms.

ran a negative balance

Highlights the imbalance between income and expenses.

sustained monetary losses

Emphasizes the continuing aspect of the losses.

failed to turn a profit

Highlights the inability to make profit.

experienced a net loss

Focuses on the net financial outcome.

was unprofitable

A more direct adjective form.

lost money

Simplifies the concept to a basic financial outcome.

showed a loss on the balance sheet

Highlights the financial statements.

was in the red

An idiomatic expression indicating financial losses.

underperformed financially

Focuses on the financial performance.

FAQs

How can I use "operated at a loss" in a sentence?

You can say "The company "operated at a loss" for three consecutive years due to high operating costs".

What's a simple way to say "operated at a loss"?

You can use alternatives like "lost money" or "was unprofitable" for simpler contexts.

What does it mean when a business "operated at a loss"?

It means the business's expenses were greater than its revenue during a specific period, resulting in a financial loss rather than a profit.

Is there a difference between "operated at a loss" and "operated at a deficit"?

While similar, "operated at a deficit" typically refers to a shortfall in a specific budget or account, while ""operated at a loss"" refers to a general financial performance where expenses exceed income.