An industry, company, or product that is unprofitable does not make any profit or does not make enough profit.
[business]
...unprofitable state-owned industries.
The newspaper is believed to have been unprofitable for at least the past decade.
Synonyms: uneconomic, unrewarding, profitless, worthless More Synonyms of unprofitable
2. adjective
Unprofitable activities or efforts do not produce any useful or helpful results.
...an endless, unprofitable argument.
The day proved frustratingly unprofitable.
Synonyms: fruitless, useless, pointless, futile More Synonyms of unprofitable
unprofitable in British English
(ʌnˈprɒfɪtəbəl)
adjective
1.
not making a profit
2.
not fruitful or beneficial
Derived forms
unprofitability (unˌprofitaˈbility) or unprofitableness (unˈprofitableness)
noun
unprofitably (unˈprofitably)
adverb
unprofitable in American English
(ʌnˈprɑfɪtəbəl)
adjective
1.
not making a profit
an unprofitable business
2.
not worthwhile
an unprofitable discussion
Derived forms
unprofitably (unˈprofitably)
adverb
Examples of 'unprofitable' in a sentence
unprofitable
But then they become unprofitable because you are doing too much.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We should let irresponsible and unprofitable businesses fail.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Politicians forced it to fly unprofitable domestic routes to remote constituencies.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If it becomes unprofitable for print, then obviously we will stop.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The group has been closing unprofitable stores, selling assets and cutting expenditure.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Until now, banks have attempted to balance the books by exiting unprofitable businesses and keeping a tight lid on costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Another day, another long-distance rail franchise becomes unprofitable.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There is no point in saying to yourself, "This is an unprofitable business and should be sold.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
America has made some of its products that go into personal care there uncompetitive against local producers; and the company has withdrawn from some unprofitable businesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The mid-cap Czech coal miner promised to close or sell some unprofitable businesses after unveiling a second straight record quarterly loss.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
unprofitable
British English: unprofitable ADJECTIVE
An industry, company, or product that is unprofitable does not make any profit or does not make enough profit.
...unprofitable, badly-run industries.
American English: unprofitable
Brazilian Portuguese: não lucrativo
Chinese: 不赢利的
European Spanish: no rentable
French: non rentableN
German: unrentabel
Italian: non redditizio
Japanese: 利益のない
Korean: 이익이 없는
European Portuguese: não lucrativo
Latin American Spanish: no rentable
1 (adjective)
Definition
not making a profit
unprofitable state-owned industries
Synonyms
uneconomic
the closure of uneconomic factories
unrewarding
profitless
worthless
Training is worthless unless there is proof that it works.
unproductive
unremunerative
Opposites
profitable
,
money-making
2 (adjective)
Definition
not producing any worthwhile results
an endless, unprofitable argument
Synonyms
fruitless
It was a fruitless search.
useless
He realised that their money was useless in this country.
pointless
Violence is always pointless.
futile
a futile attempt to ward off the blow
vain
They worked all night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule.
unproductive
They are aware much of their time and effort is unproductive.
unavailing
a brave but unavailing fight against a terminal illness
unfruitful
an unfruitful area of conjecture
profitless
a singularly profitless line of thought
bootless
Opposites
profitable
,
constructive
,
fruitful
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bootless
Definition
of little or no use
Synonyms
useless,
vain,
unsuccessful,
ineffective,
futile,
fruitless,
to no avail,
unavailing,
profitless
in the sense of futile
Definition
useless or having no chance of success
a futile attempt to ward off the blow
Synonyms
useless,
vain,
unsuccessful,
pointless,
empty,
hollow,
in vain,
worthless,
barren,
sterile,
fruitless,
forlorn,
unproductive,
abortive,
to no avail,
ineffectual,
unprofitable,
valueless,
unavailing,
otiose,
profitless,
nugatory,
without rhyme or reason,
bootless
in the sense of pointless
Definition
without meaning or purpose
Violence is always pointless.
Synonyms
senseless,
meaningless,
futile,
fruitless,
unproductive,
stupid,
silly,
useless,
absurd,
irrelevant,
in vain,
worthless,
ineffectual,
unprofitable,
nonsensical,
aimless,
inane,
unavailing,
without rhyme or reason
Nearby words of
unprofitable
unprincipled
unproductive
unprofessional
unprofitable
unpromising
unprotected
unqualified
Synonyms of 'unprofitable'
unprofitable
Explore 'unprofitable' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of profitless
a singularly profitless line of thought
Synonyms
unprofitable,
useless,
vain,
idle,
pointless,
ineffective,
worthless,
futile,
fruitless,
unproductive,
ineffectual,
thankless,
unavailing,
to no purpose,
bootless,
unremunerative
in the sense of unavailing
Definition
useless or futile
a brave but unavailing fight against a terminal illness
Synonyms
useless,
unsuccessful,
ineffective,
futile,
vain,
idle,
pointless,
fruitless,
unproductive,
abortive,
ineffectual,
to no purpose,
of no avail,
bootless
in the sense of unfruitful
an unfruitful area of conjecture
Synonyms
unprofitable,
fruitless,
unproductive,
unrewarding
in the sense of unproductive
Definition
not producing any worthwhile results
They are aware much of their time and effort is unproductive.
Synonyms
useless,
futile,
fruitless,
vain,
idle,
ineffective,
worthless,
unprofitable,
unrewarding,
valueless,
unavailing,
otiose,
bootless,
unremunerative,
inefficacious
in the sense of useless
Definition
ineffectual, weak, or stupid
He realised that their money was useless in this country.
Synonyms
worthless,
of no use,
valueless,
pants (slang),
ineffective,
impractical,
fruitless,
unproductive,
ineffectual,
unworkable,
disadvantageous,
unavailing,
bootless,
unsuitable
in the sense of vain
Definition
senseless or unsuccessful
They worked all night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule.
Synonyms
futile,
useless,
pointless,
unsuccessful,
empty,
hollow,
idle,
trivial,
worthless,
trifling,
senseless,
unimportant,
fruitless,
unproductive,
abortive,
unprofitable,
time-wasting,
unavailing,
nugatory
in the sense of worthless
Definition
without value or usefulness
Training is worthless unless there is proof that it works.