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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
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
The contractor, Zachary Young, was included in a November 2021 segment on war profiteers charging high prices to assist people in fleeing Afghanistan after the U.S. exited.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
Expect the same slick ads that neglect to mention dangers in order to get our youth hooked as a key long-term strategy for profiteers.
—Bruce Grant, Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2024
The rule is meant to insure that cultural property remains intact and accessible, rather than being hoarded away or sold off by profiteers.
—Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1912, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near profiteer
Cite this Entry
“Profiteer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profiteer. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on profiteer
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for profiteer
Britannica English: Translation of profiteer for Arabic Speakers
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