profiteer
profiteer Lexical Profile
profiteer Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person or organization that seeks or makes an excessive, unfair profit, especially by selling scarce or necessary goods at inflated prices during a crisis or war.
"The government passed strict price-control laws to prevent unscrupulous profiteers from exploiting the winter fuel shortage."
• verb
To make or seek to make an excessive, unfair profit, especially by charging exorbitant prices for essential goods during an emergency or shortage.
"Several suppliers were fined heavily after attempting to profiteer during the public health emergency."
• Rhymes for profiteer
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 18th century from 'profit' and the agent suffix '-eer' (modeled on words like 'privateer' and 'racketeer'), the term gained widespread currency during World War I to describe merchants who exploited wartime shortages.