The word "profitable" is spelled with three syllables: /ˈprɒfɪtəbəl/. The first syllable starts with the stress and the vowel sound is "pro" /prɒ/. The second syllable has a short "i" sound /ˈfɪt/ and the final syllable has an unstressed schwa sound /əbəl/. The word refers to something that yields a positive return or financial gain. Investing in a profitable business can lead to long-term success, making the correct spelling of this word important in financial communication.
Profitable is an adjective used to describe something that yields a financial gain or provides a positive return on investment. It refers to activities, businesses, or investments that generate more income or benefits than the costs or efforts involved. When a venture or endeavor is profitable, the revenues earned exceed the expenses incurred, resulting in a surplus or profit.
In business, profitability is a key measure of success and sustainability. It indicates the ability of a company or organization to efficiently utilize resources and generate earnings. A profitable business can sustain its operations, expand its activities, and reward its shareholders or owners. It often signifies effective management, successful marketing strategies, competitive advantages, and strong customer demand. Profitability is commonly assessed using financial ratios such as gross profit margin, net profit margin, return on investment, and return on equity.
In a broader sense, "profitable" can also be applied to various contexts beyond finances. It can describe activities that are advantageous, rewarding, or beneficial in terms of personal growth, learning, or satisfaction. For example, a profitable experience can refer to a valuable lesson learned, personal development achieved, or meaningful connections made. In this sense, profitability is not limited to monetary gains but can encompass a wide range of tangible and intangible benefits.
Bringing profit; lucrative; useful; beneficial.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "profitable" originates from the Latin word "profitalis", which is derived from the Latin verb "profectus", meaning "to make progress" or "to advance". "Profitalis" also evolved from the Latin noun "profitus", which signifies "advantage", "benefit", or "gain". Over time, the term was adopted into Old French as "profitable", before being integrated into Middle English as "profitable" in the 14th century, with the same meaning of yielding a financial gain or being advantageous.