profit
12 synonyms and 1 antonym for profit, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The financial gain made after subtracting costs from revenue.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The financial gain made after subtracting costs from revenue.
“The shop made a small profit in its first year.”
How to use profit
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
turn a profit
profit margin
profit from
Etymology
From Old French profit, from Latin proficio, "to advance, make progress, be useful."
Full origin of profit →Frequently asked questions
What does “profit” mean?
The word “profit” means the financial gain made after subtracting costs from revenue. In plain terms, money (or benefit) gained after costs are covered.
How do you pronounce “profit”?
“Profit” is pronounced PRO-fiht (/ˈpɹɑfɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “profit” in a sentence?
Here is “profit” used in a sentence: “The shop made a small profit in its first year.”
What part of speech is “profit”?
Depending on how it is used, “profit” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “profit” come from?
The word “profit” comes from Latin. From Old French profit, from Latin proficio, "to advance, make progress, be useful.".
Is “profit” a common word?
“Profit” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “profit” have?
“Profit” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the financial gain made after subtracting costs from revenue.
What is the difference between profit and prophet?
They sound alike but are unrelated. Profit is a financial term meaning the money left once costs are subtracted from revenue. A prophet is a person believed to speak for God or to foretell the future. The two are homophones, which is why they are so easily mixed up in writing.
What is the difference between profit and revenue?
Revenue is the total money a business takes in from sales before any expenses. Profit is what remains after those costs — wages, materials, rent, tax — are subtracted. A company can have high revenue yet little or no profit if its costs are almost as large as its income.
What are the types of profit?
Accountants usually distinguish three levels. Gross profit is revenue minus the direct cost of goods sold. Operating profit then subtracts running expenses like wages and rent. Net profit, the bottom line, is what remains after everything, including interest and tax, has been taken out.
Is profit the same as income?
Not quite. In everyday use they overlap, but income can refer to all money coming in, while profit specifically means the surplus left after costs. 'Net income' and 'net profit' are often used interchangeably in accounting, both describing the final gain a business or person keeps.
