Profit Means to Make Progress
Profit is financial gain. The Latin root means to advance, which is why it also means benefit of any kind.
Profit is financial gain, and more broadly any benefit. The Latin *proficere* means to advance or make progress, from *pro*, forward, and *facere*, to make. That is why *what profit is there in it* asks about benefit rather than money, and why *proficient* means having advanced in a skill.
- Financial gain. *A healthy profit.*
- Benefit. *To your profit.*
- To gain. *Profit from experience.*
- Profit margin — gain as a share of revenue. *A thin profit margin.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | profit | Net profit. |
| Plural | profits | Rising profits. |
| Verb | profit | Profit greatly. |
| Adjective | profitable | A profitable line. |
| Related | proficient | Proficient in French. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Gross profit is before costs.Net profit is after them.
- He profited from the delay.Benefited.
- Profit and prophet are homophones.With no shared origin.
Profit terms
- Gross profit — revenue minus direct costs
- Net profit — after all expenses, including tax and interest
- Margin — profit expressed as a percentage of revenue
- Break-even — the point where revenue equals costs
- Non-profit — an organisation not distributing surplus to owners
From Old French *profit*, from Latin *profectus*, progress, from *proficere*, to advance.
Gross or net profit?
Gross profit deducts only the direct costs of what is sold. Net profit deducts everything, including overheads, interest and tax.
Are profit and prophet related?
No. Prophet comes from Greek meaning one who speaks before. The identical sound is coincidence.