English - Hungarian

unprofitable

gb/ʌnpɹˈɑfɪtəbəl/ us/ʌnpɹˈɑfɪtəbəl/
B2 English
veszteséges, haszontalan, eredménytelen
B2
1
Usage pattern:
an unprofitable [business/activity/investment/product]; prove/remain/become unprofitable
The airline dropped several unprofitable routes last year.
A légitársaság tavaly több veszteséges útvonalat megszüntetett.
The company is growing fast, but it remains unprofitable.
A vállalat gyorsan növekszik, de továbbra is veszteséges.
They closed the unprofitable factory and moved production overseas.
Learner examples
The shop was unprofitable, so it closed.
A bolt veszteséges volt, ezért bezárt.
This product is popular but unprofitable.
Ez a termék népszerű, de veszteséges.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse unprofitable with nonprofit. A nonprofit organization is not run mainly to make profit; an unprofitable business is losing money or not making enough money.
Meaning
not making financial profit
Collocations
unprofitable business |unprofitable company |unprofitable venture |unprofitable investment |unprofitable product line |unprofitable route |unprofitable operations |unprofitable customers |remain unprofitable |prove unprofitable
Synonyms
loss-making (especially common in business contexts; emphasizes losing money) | unremunerative (more formal; emphasizes not paying enough) | uneconomic (emphasizes not being worth the cost)
Antonyms
profitable (making more money than it costs) | lucrative (making a large or attractive profit)
Themes
business |finance |economics
Definition

not earning more money than it costs

Not producing a financial profit; costing more to operate, make, or provide than it earns.

C1 FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
an unprofitable [discussion/debate/exercise/line of inquiry]; unprofitable to [do something]
The meeting turned into an unprofitable argument about old mistakes.
A megbeszélés a régi hibákról szóló haszontalan vitába fulladt.
It would be unprofitable to spend more time on a theory we cannot test.
Haszontalan lenne több időt pazarolni egy olyan elméletre, amelyet nem tudunk tesztelni.
The lawyer avoided an unprofitable line of questioning.
Learner examples
This debate is unprofitable.
Ez a vita haszontalan.
It is unprofitable to argue about small details.
Haszontalan apró részleteken vitatkozni.
Common mistake:
In everyday speech, people more often say unproductive, pointless, or not worth it. Unprofitable in this sense can sound formal.
Meaning
not useful or worthwhile
Collocations
unprofitable discussion |unprofitable debate |unprofitable exercise |unprofitable line of inquiry |unprofitable speculation |unprofitable argument |unprofitable comparison |unprofitable pursuit
Synonyms
unproductive (common neutral word for producing no useful result) | fruitless (emphasizes that an effort produced no result) | pointless (more informal and stronger; suggests there is no purpose)
Antonyms
productive (producing useful results) | worthwhile (worth the time or effort) | useful (having practical value)
Themes
communication |work |decision_making
Definition

not useful or not worth doing

Not producing a useful result or benefit; not worth the time, effort, or attention involved.

Grammar
Dictionary form
unprofitable
IPA
GB/ʌnpɹˈɑfɪtəbəl/
US/ʌnpɹˈɑfɪtəbəl/
Syllables & stress
un - prof - it - able (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (prof)
Word forms
Adjective
  • Base: unprofitable
Expressions

No expressions linked to this entry yet.

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