noun

cash cow

KASH kow

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Cash cow (noun) means a product, business unit or investment that reliably generates far more money than it costs to run, often used to fund riskier parts of a company. Example: “The printer ink division is the company's cash cow, quietly paying for everything else.”

noun

A product, business unit or investment that reliably generates far more money than it costs to run, often used to fund riskier parts of a company.

"The printer ink division is the company's cash cow, quietly paying for everything else."

"Their back catalogue has become a cash cow on streaming platforms."

business In business strategy, a mature offering with a high market share in a slow-growing market, requiring little investment while still producing steady profit.

"On the growth-share matrix, the flagship detergent sits firmly in the cash cow quadrant."

How to use cash cow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that keeps making lots of money without much effort.

When to use it

Informal but entirely acceptable in business writing and journalism.

Memory tip

The verb that goes with it is milk: companies milk a cash cow. Do not say feed a cash cow.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

loss leader golden goose

Common pairings

a real cash cow milk the cash cow become a cash cow cash cow product

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “cash cow” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The printer ink division is the company's _____, quietly paying for everything else.

Etymology

A figurative compound: a cow that can be milked continuously without further outlay, applied to a source of steady income.

Origin: English

Synonyms

View more →

money-spinner moneymaker gold mine earner breadwinner

Antonyms

loss leader money pit

Related words

leader provider breadwinner earner moneymaker cornucopia

Frequently asked questions

Is calling something a cash cow an insult?

Not usually about the money, but it can be dismissive about the thing itself. Describing a film franchise or a university course as a cash cow implies it is kept alive for revenue rather than merit, so the term often carries a mild sneer even while conceding the profits are real.

What is the difference between a cash cow and a loss leader?

A cash cow makes money and is kept because of it. A loss leader deliberately makes little or no money — it is priced low to pull customers in so they buy something profitable alongside it. One is the source of profit, the other is bait for it.

Where does the term come from in business?

It is standard vocabulary in portfolio analysis, where products are sorted by market share and market growth. The cash cow label marks the high-share, low-growth box: dependable, unexciting, and used to fund the growth areas.

What is the meaning of cash cow?

"cash cow" (noun) means a product, business unit or investment that reliably generates far more money than it costs to run, often used to fund riskier parts of a company.

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