self-profit

A manager was fired for putting self-profit above the company's interests.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Personal gain or advantage: "self-profit" refers to benefit, advantage, or material gain that is obtained for oneself, often at the expense of others or without regard for collective welfare.
   • Self-interest in economic or ethical contexts: The concept of acting primarily to increase one's own wealth, status, or well-being, as opposed to altruistic or communal goals.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • His every decision in the company was driven by self-profit, not by concern for employees. (Personal gain motivated his actions.)
  • The charity was accused of being a front for self-profit rather than genuine aid. (The organisation was suspected of serving personal financial interests.)
  • In many business ethics courses, self-profit is discussed as a legitimate but limited motive. (Self-interest in economic theory.)

Advanced Usage

• "to seek self-profit": to actively pursue personal advantage.

  • Entrepreneurs often seek self-profit, but successful ones also create value for society. (They aim for personal financial gain.)

• "self-profit versus common good": a dichotomy in ethics or economics.

  • The debate between self-profit and the common good is central to political philosophy. (The tension between individual gain and collective welfare.)

Variants and Related Words

• Self-profiting (adj): characterised by or promoting personal gain.

  • The self-profiting scheme was quickly uncovered by regulators. (A plan designed for personal enrichment.)

• Self-profiteer (n): a person who obtains excessive or unethical personal profit.

  • The war profiteer was a classic self-profiteer, exploiting shortages for personal wealth. (Someone who gains from crisis.)

Synonyms

• Self-interest: regard for one's own advantage or well-being.
• Personal gain: benefit or profit that accrues to oneself.
• Private profit: profit that is not shared with others.

Related Idioms

• Look out for number one: to prioritise one's own interests.

  • In a competitive market, you have to look out for number one, but self-profit can become selfish. (Focus on personal advantage.)

• Feather one's nest: to enrich oneself, often by unethical means.

  • The politician was found to have feathered his nest through self-profit schemes. (Illegally profited personally.)