was unprofitable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was unprofitable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, business, or investment that did not generate a profit or resulted in a loss. Example: "The venture into the new market was unprofitable, leading the company to reconsider its strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

The Trade Center was unprofitable for years.

The New Yorker

Settlement was unprofitable to both the company and the colonists.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He hoped they would conclude Facebook was unprofitable, he said.

The New York Times - Tech

The villages were tightly grouped; there were empty brush areas in which farming was unprofitable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

MF Global, when Mr. Corzine took it over in 2010, was unprofitable.

The New York Times

Still, the magazine was unprofitable from the first quarter of 2004 through nearly four years.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

Almost every product line is unprofitable.

The Economist

"Frankly, right now, those companies are unprofitable.

The New York Times

But Hulu is unprofitable, according to analysts.

The New York Times

It is unprofitable in all its markets.

The Guardian - Business

Sunbeam has been unprofitable for two years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a business or project's financial performance, use "was unprofitable" to clearly state that it did not generate a profit. Be specific about the time frame (e.g., "was unprofitable for three consecutive years").

Common error

Don't confuse "was unprofitable", which means it lost money, with "was not for profit", which describes an organization whose primary goal isn't making money, even if it does turn a profit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was unprofitable" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state or condition of a subject (e.g., a business, project, or period). It indicates that the subject did not generate profit and potentially incurred losses, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was unprofitable" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something that didn't generate a profit, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a predicate adjective, often found in news reports, encyclopedias, and business analyses. When writing, remember to clearly define the timeframe and avoid confusing it with "was not for profit". Alternatives include "operated at a loss" or "resulted in a deficit". Examples show its frequent use in media when referring to investments or company results.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

operated at a loss

Highlights the financial loss incurred during operation.

incurred financial losses

Highlights the losses occurred.

didn't generate profit

Focuses on the absence of profit generation.

had negative earnings

Highlights the negativity of the earnings.

resulted in a deficit

Indicates the presence of a financial shortfall.

proved to be a loss

Focuses on the result of a losing venture.

failed to make money

Emphasizes the failure to achieve monetary gain.

was a losing proposition

Emphasizes that something was set up to fail financially.

did not yield returns

Focuses on the absence of financial returns.

ran into the red

Informal way to express financial losses.

FAQs

How can I use "was unprofitable" in a sentence?

Use "was unprofitable" to describe a business, project, or period that did not generate a profit. For example, "The first year of the business "was unprofitable" due to high start-up costs".

What is a formal alternative to "was unprofitable"?

In formal contexts, you might use "operated at a loss" or "resulted in a deficit" as alternatives to ""was unprofitable"".

Which is correct, "was unprofitable" or "were unprofitable"?

Use "was unprofitable" with singular subjects (e.g., "The business was unprofitable"). Use "were unprofitable" with plural subjects (e.g., "The investments were unprofitable").

What's the difference between "was unprofitable" and "broke even"?

"Was unprofitable" means the venture lost money. "Broke even" means it neither made nor lost money; its revenue equaled its expenses.