WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
un•prof•it•a•ble /ʌnˈprɑfɪtəbəl/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- not showing or making a profit.
- pointless;
having no benefit;
futile:an unprofitable line of thought.
un•prof•it•a•ble
(un prof′i tə bəl),USA pronunciation adj.
un•prof′it•a•ble•ness, un•prof′it•a•bil′i•ty, n.
un•prof′it•a•bly, adv.
- being without profit;
not showing or turning a profit:a series of unprofitable ventures. - pointless or futile:an unprofitable three years in a routine job.
- Middle English. See un-1, profitable 1275–1325
un•prof′it•a•bly, adv.
'unprofitable' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
axe
- barren
- dead loss
- gainless
- losing
- margin
- sell off
- sleeveless
- submarginal
- unfruitful
- wasted