profiteer

noun

prof·​i·​teer ˌprä-fə-ˈtir 

: one who makes what is considered an unreasonable profit especially on the sale of essential goods during times of emergency

profiteer intransitive verb

Examples of profiteer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet sanctions seemed not to touch those who rose to wealth during the war: looters, smugglers, and war profiteers protected by the regime. —Loubna Mrie, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024

For a quarter century we have been misled by a chorus of neocon war hawks, defense industry profiteers, think tank courtiers and media opportunists. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

Genocide profiteers like Raytheon supply weapons to the IDF, paid for by our taxes. —Omar Gallaga, Austin American-Statesman, 6 Mar. 2024

The metaverse is understood by the world’s profiteers to be a frontier created specifically to be colonized; its purpose is wealth extraction. —Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

profiteer

noun

prof·​i·​teer ˌpräf-ə-ˈti(ə)r 

: a person who makes an unfair profit especially on essential goods during an emergency

profiteer verb

Legal Definition

profiteer

noun

prof·​i·​teer ˌprä-fə-ˈtir 

: one who makes an unreasonable profit especially on the sale of essential goods during times of emergency (as during wartime)

profiteer intransitive verb