profiteer

[präfəˈtir]

profiteer Definition

a person who takes advantage of a situation to make excessive profits, typically by selling essential goods during a shortage at exorbitant prices.

Using profiteer: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "profiteer" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    During the pandemic, some people became profiteers by hoarding and reselling essential goods at inflated prices.

  • Example

    The company was accused of being a profiteer by raising the prices of their products during the crisis.

  • Example

    He was labeled as a profiteer for taking advantage of the war to make a fortune.

profiteer Synonyms and Antonyms

Phrases with profiteer

  • a person or company that makes excessive profits by selling goods or services to the military during wartime

    Example

    Many companies were accused of being war profiteers during World War II.

  • a person or company that makes excessive profits by selling goods or services during a natural disaster or other crisis

    Example

    Some people accused the government of being disaster profiteers by awarding contracts to their friends and allies during the hurricane relief efforts.

  • a person or company that makes excessive profits by selling oil or petroleum products at inflated prices

    Example

    The government accused the oil companies of being oil profiteers by manipulating the prices of gasoline and diesel fuel.

Origins of profiteer

from French 'profiter', meaning 'to profit'

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Summary: profiteer in Brief

A 'profiteer' [präfəˈtir] is a person who takes advantage of a situation, often a shortage of essential goods, to make excessive profits by selling them at exorbitant prices. It is a derogatory term that implies greed and exploitation. Examples include hoarding and reselling essential goods during a crisis or raising prices during a shortage. Phrases like 'war profiteer' and 'disaster profiteer' describe those who make excessive profits during wartime or natural disasters. Synonyms include 'opportunist' and 'exploiter.'