lucrative
/ˈluː.krə.tɪv/Producing a large amount of money or profit. Something lucrative brings in very good financial returns, often more than expected or average.
- Software engineering is one of the most lucrative careers right now.
- They signed a lucrative deal with a major international brand.
- The export business proved surprisingly lucrative in the first year.
Adinary Nuance
Lucrative sits close to profitable, rewarding, and well-paying — but they are not fully interchangeable. Profitable is the most neutral and measurable of the three; an accountant would say a business is profitable when revenues exceed costs. Lucrative carries a stronger sense of impressive or substantial financial gain — a deal can be technically profitable but not really lucrative. Rewarding is the most important word to keep separate: it often means emotionally or personally satisfying, not financially so — a volunteer job can be deeply rewarding but never lucrative. Well-paying or high-paying are informal and mostly limited to jobs and salaries, while lucrative applies broadly to contracts, markets, careers, and business ventures.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sinh lợi
- Spanish
- lucrativo
- Chinese
- 有利可图
- Japanese
- 儲かる
- Korean
- 돈이 되는
Etymology
From Latin "lucrativus," meaning "profitable" or "bringing gain," derived from "lucrum" (profit, gain). The word entered English in the late 15th century through Old French.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'lucrative' and 'profitable'?
- 'Profitable' simply means income is greater than costs — it is a neutral, measurable term. 'Lucrative' implies the gain is large or impressively high, not just positive. A small side business might be profitable but not lucrative.
- Can I use 'lucrative' to describe a job?
- Yes, absolutely. You can say 'a lucrative job,' 'a lucrative career,' or 'a lucrative position.' It means the job pays very well. This is one of the most common uses in Indian business English.
- Is 'lucrative' a formal word?
- 'Lucrative' sits in a neutral-to-formal register. It is common in business writing, news articles, and professional conversation. It is not slang, but it is not overly stiff either — you can use it in emails, presentations, and interviews comfortably.
- Does 'lucrative' always mean something good?
- Financially, yes — it always means a lot of money is being made. However, context can add a negative tone. People sometimes say something is 'lucrative but unethical,' implying the money comes at a moral cost.