profit and loss

noun

: a summary account used at the end of an accounting period to collect the balances of the nominal accounts so that the net profit or loss may be shown

Examples of profit and loss in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Exotic lenders do accept profit and loss statements as long as they are countersigned by a tax preparer. — Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 7 May 2026 Everyone has ethics until their P&L [profit and loss] is affected. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026 The vast majority—95%—report zero impact on profit and loss statements from formal AI investments. — Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025 This creates one profit and loss statement, one north star and clear ownership of commercial outcomes from strategy through execution. — Saul Marquez, Forbes.com, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for profit and loss

Word History

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of profit and loss was in 1553

Rhymes for profit and loss

See All Rhymes for profit and loss

Browse Nearby Words

profitably
profit and loss
profit and loss statement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Profit and loss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profit%20and%20loss. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All