profit motive: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Academic, Business
Quick answer
What does “profit motive” mean?
The desire for financial gain as the primary driving force behind an action or enterprise.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The desire for financial gain as the primary driving force behind an action or enterprise.
A fundamental principle in capitalist economics where the expectation of profit incentivises investment, production, and innovation. It can also refer to the underlying financial reason for an individual's or company's behaviour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more frequent in American discourse on economics.
Connotations
In both varieties, can be used neutrally (e.g., economic theory) or pejoratively (e.g., criticism of corporate ethics).
Frequency
Common in economics, business, and political commentary in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “profit motive” in a Sentence
The [noun] is driven by the profit motive.Critics argue that the profit motive [verb phrase].Without a clear profit motive, [clause].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “profit motive” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The profit motive is often blamed for the decline in product quality.
- Is the profit motive compatible with environmental sustainability?
American English
- The profit motive drives most innovation in the tech sector.
- Their charity work operates entirely separate from any profit motive.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The company's strategy is fundamentally aligned with the profit motive.
Academic
Classical economic theory posits the profit motive as the central engine of market efficiency.
Everyday
I don't think he's helping out of kindness—there's probably a profit motive somewhere.
Technical
The model assumes actors are rational and influenced solely by the profit motive.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “profit motive”
- Using 'motive of profit' (unnatural word order).
- Confusing with 'prophet motive' (homophone error).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In economics and business, it is a neutral, analytical term describing a key incentive. It becomes negative in contexts criticising greed or the prioritisation of money over people or ethics.
Typically, no. By definition, a non-profit's primary motive is not financial gain but a social, charitable, or other mission. However, a non-profit must still generate surplus revenue (akin to profit) to be sustainable, but this is not termed its 'motive'.
'Profit motive' is a systemic or psychological driver, often discussed objectively. 'Greed' is a moral judgement on an excessive or selfish desire for gain. The profit motive can lead to greed but is not synonymous with it.
Yes. It is a fixed noun phrase made of 'profit' (noun acting as modifier) + 'motive' (head noun). It is usually hyphenated when used as a phrasal adjective before a noun (e.g., 'profit-motive analysis').
The desire for financial gain as the primary driving force behind an action or enterprise.
Profit motive is usually formal, academic, business in register.
Profit motive: in British English it is pronounced /ˈprɒf.ɪt ˌməʊ.tɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈprɑː.fɪt ˌmoʊ.t̬ɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Follow the money.”
- “Bottom-line thinking.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PROFIT MOTIVE: Picture a MOTOR (motive) that only runs on MONEY (profit). The engine of business.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROFIT IS A DRIVER / ENGINE. (e.g., 'fueled by profit', 'driven by the profit motive').
Practice
Quiz
In a critical context, 'profit motive' often implies: