Profiteer

Pronunciation: /prəˌfɪˈtɪr/

Definitions of profiteer

noun a person who takes advantage of a situation to make excessive profits, typically through unethical means

Example Sentences

A1 The profiteer took advantage of the shortage to raise prices.

A2 The profiteer was selling fake designer handbags.

B1 The government cracked down on profiteers who were exploiting the situation.

B2 The profiteer was arrested for price gouging during the crisis.

C1 The profiteer manipulated the market to maximize their profits.

C2 The profiteer engaged in unethical business practices to exploit consumers.

Examples of profiteer in a Sentence

formal The profiteer took advantage of the high demand for medical supplies during the pandemic.

informal That profiteer is always looking for ways to make a quick buck.

slang Don't trust that profiteer, he's just out to scam you.

figurative She was accused of being a profiteer of emotions, always manipulating others for her own gain.

Grammatical Forms of profiteer

• past tense: profiteered
• plural: profiteers
• comparative: more profiteering
• superlative: most profiteering
• present tense: profiteers
• future tense: will profiteer
• perfect tense: have profiteered
• continuous tense: profiteering
• singular: profiteer
• positive degree: profiteer
• infinitive: to profiteer
• gerund: profiteering
• participle: profiteering

Origin and Evolution of profiteer

First Known Use: 1915 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'profiteer' originated from the combination of 'profit' and the suffix '-eer', which denotes a person associated with a particular activity.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in a negative connotation to describe someone who makes excessive profits, often by taking advantage of a situation such as war or scarcity. Over time, the term has come to be used more broadly to refer to anyone who seeks to make a profit, regardless of ethics or circumstances.