gainful

adjective

gain·​ful ˈgān-fəl How to pronounce gainful (audio)
: productive of gain : profitable
gainful employment
gainfully adverb
gainfulness noun

Examples of gainful in a Sentence

graduated from school and went looking for gainful employment
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.
The lefty newspaper has had an uptick in workers’ interest because there is gainful employment at the baths. Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2024 The administration is calling these gainful employment and financial value transparency regulations. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 July 2024 Bauer-Wolf of New America said the setback with the latest gainful employment rule is concerning given the possibility of a second Trump administration. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post, 22 June 2024 Friday’s ruling arrives days after another federal judge in Texas denied a motion for preliminary injunction filed by two for-profit cosmetology schools seeking to block the gainful employment regulation. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post, 22 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for gainful 

Word History

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gainful was in 1553

Dictionary Entries Near gainful

Cite this Entry

“Gainful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gainful. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

gainful

adjective
gain·​ful ˈgān-fəl How to pronounce gainful (audio)
: producing gain : making money
gainful employment
gainfully adverb
gainfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gainful

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!