Profitable \Prof"it*a*ble\, a. [F. profitable.] Yielding or bringing profit or gain; gainful; lucrative; useful; helpful; advantageous; beneficial; as, a profitable trade; profitable business; a profitable study or profession. [1913 Webster] What was so profitable to the empire became fatal to the emperor. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster] -- {Prof"it*a*ble*ness}, n. -- {Prof"it*a*bly}, adv. [1913 Webster]