First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1profit
noun, prof·it often attributive \ˈprä-fət\
: money that is made in a business, through investing, etc., after all the costs and expenses are paid : a financial gain
: the advantage or benefit that is gained from doing something
Full Definition of PROFIT
1
: a valuable return : gain
2
: the excess of returns over expenditure in a transaction or series of transactions; especially : the excess of the selling price of goods over their cost
3
: net income usually for a given period of time
4
: the ratio of profit for a given year to the amount of capital invested or to the value of sales
5
: the compensation accruing to entrepreneurs for the assumption of risk in business enterprise as distinguished from wages or rent
— prof·it·less \-ləs\ adjective
— prof·it·wise \-ˌwīz\ adverb
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Origin of PROFIT
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin profectus advance, profit, from proficere
Other Economics Terms
2profit
verb
: to get an advantage or benefit from something
: to be an advantage to (someone) : to help (someone)
: to earn or get money by or from something
Full Definition of PROFIT
intransitive verb
1
: to be of service or advantage : avail
2
: to derive benefit : gain
3
: to make a profit
transitive verb
: to be of service to : benefit
See profit defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PROFIT
14th century
PROFITLESS Defined for Kids
1profit
noun prof·it \ˈprä-fət\
Definition of PROFIT for Kids
1
: the gain after all the expenses are subtracted from the total amount received <Their business shows a profit of $100 a week.>
2
: the gain or benefit from something <She began to see the profit of exercising.>
— prof·it·less \-ləs\ adjective
2profit
verb
prof·it·edprof·it·ing
Definition of PROFIT for Kids
1
: to get some good out of something : gain <You'll profit from the experience.>
2
: to be of use to (someone) <The agreement profited us all.>
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