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

Zachary Young, a security consultant who charged $14,000 or more to evacuate people from Afghanistan, said the network defamed him in its 2021 report on war profiteers. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025

Israeli officials have accused Hamas of hoarding essential supplies to serve its own members and to wield control over the population, and there have been reports of profiteers seizing aid and then selling it on the black market. —Hiba Yazbek, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025

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

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