cash cow

noun

1
: a consistently profitable business, property, or product whose profits are used to finance a company's investments in other areas
2
: one regarded or exploited as a reliable source of money
a singer deemed a cash cow for the record label

Examples of cash cow in a Sentence

The football team was a cash cow for the university. The movie studio saw the actress as a cash cow.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The growing pains sparked congressional debates decades ago, but the advertising industry's cash cow won out over political quarrels, institutionalizing the contemporary idea of Presidents Day. Avery Lotz, Axios, 17 Feb. 2025 One theory is that the ability to ask an AI chatbot a question and receive an answer threatened Google search, the company’s cash cow. Tom Wheeler, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025 Some analysts have suggested that its cash cow brands are also in need of a refresh. Joelle Diderich, WWD, 15 Oct. 2024 And Bluey the brand is a cash cow, which feels appropriate considering the Heelers are Australian Cattle Dogs. Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for cash cow

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cash cow was in 1972

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Cite this Entry

“Cash cow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cash%20cow. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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