for-profit

adjective

for-prof·​it ˈfȯr-ˈprä-fət 

: established, maintained, or conducted for the purpose of making a profit

for-profit businesses

Examples of for-profit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The hospitals that closed were more likely to be smaller, for-profit and safety-net hospitals, which generally treat more vulnerable communities and uninsured patients, the study said. — Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Costs were higher in counties where water systems are run by for-profit corporations, the group said. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

For research conducted today in both academic organizations and for-profit companies, ownership of intellectual property is generally held by these organizations rather than the human discoverers now named in patents. — Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026

The facilities sold by the GEO Group, a for-profit prison company, are all located in Adelanto, north of San Bernardino. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for for-profit

• nonprofit
• profit
• prophet
• soffit

Kids Definition

for-profit

adjective

for-prof·​it

ˈfȯr-ˈpräf-ət

: existing or carried on for the purpose of making a profit

for-profit business