profit
PRO-fiht
Profit (noun) means the financial gain made after subtracting costs from revenue. Example: “The shop made a small profit in its first year.”
noun
1
The financial gain made after subtracting costs from revenue.
"The shop made a small profit in its first year."
"They sold the house at a profit."
"After paying for ingredients and wages, the café still had a little profit left."
verb
1
To gain an advantage or benefit from something.
"Investors profited from the early rise in the stock price."
"Local farmers profit from the market when visitors come to buy fresh produce."
"You can profit from other people's mistakes if you learn from them."
How to use profit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMoney (or benefit) gained after costs are covered.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "prophet" (a religious figure) — same sound, unrelated meaning.
Common pairings
turn a profit
profit margin
profit from
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like profit.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- profits
- Past tense
- profited
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The shop made a small _____ in its first year.
Etymology
From Old French profit, from Latin proficio, "to advance, make progress, be useful."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for profit
See all rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include profit:
