profiteering

Meanings

nounprofiteering (usually uncountable, plural profiteerings)

uncountableusuallyThe act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically or opportunistically.
war profiteering
1 more example
Pfizer has made nearly $26bn (£21bn) in revenues in the first three months of the year, the bulk from its Covid-19 vaccine and new pill to treat the virus, prompting fresh accusations of pandemic profiteering.
2022 May 3, Julia Kollewe, “Pfizer accused of Covid profiteering as first-quarter sales hit $26bn”, in The Guardian

verb

Bulgarian спекула

спекула (spekula)the act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically

German Geschäftemacherei, Wucherei

Geschäftemachereithe act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically
Wuchereithe act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically

Greek αισχροκέρδεια

αισχροκέρδεια (aischrokérdeia)the act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically

Hungarian nyerészkedés, haszonlesés

nyerészkedésthe act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically
haszonlesésthe act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically

Irish brabúsaíocht

brabúsaíochtthe act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically

Italian affarismo, sciacallaggio

affarismothe act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically
sciacallaggiothe act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically

Russian спекуля́ция

спекуля́ция (spekuljácija)the act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically

Turkish alaverecilik, ihtikârcılık

alaverecilikthe act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically
ihtikârcılıkthe act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically
vurgunculukthe act of making an unreasonable profit not justified by the corresponding assumption of risk, or by doing so unethically

Cite this entry

APA

profiteering. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/profiteering

MLA

“profiteering.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/profiteering. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “profiteering,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/profiteering.