gainful

[ geyn-fuhl ]

/ ˈgeɪn fəl /

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See synonyms for: gainful / gainfully on Thesaurus.com

adjective

profitable; lucrative: gainful employment.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of gainful

First recorded in 1545–55; gain¹ + -ful

OTHER WORDS FROM gainful

gain·ful·ly, adverbgain·ful·ness, nounun·gain·ful, adjectiveun·gain·ful·ly, adverb

Words nearby gainful

gaily, gain, gainer, Gaines, Gainesville, gainful, gaingiving, gain ground, gainings, gainless, gainly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gainful in a sentence

One of the many positive effects of this law, is to allow people to regain their good name and gainful employment.
Oceanside Employee Alleging Treasurer Lost Millions in City Funds Was Previously Convicted of Burglary Using City’s Credit Card|Ashly McGlone and Tigist Layne|August 23, 2022|Voice of San Diego
To qualify for disability benefits from the SSA, an individual must show they have an impairment that prevents them from “substantial, gainful activity” that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in their death.
How COVID-19 Long Haulers Could Change the U.S. Disability Benefits System|Abigail Abrams|July 20, 2021|Time
He went to business school at the University of Chicago, spent 19 years working in finance and then gave up gainful employment to work for Humanitarian China, which he co-founded in 2007 to provide aid to families of political prisoners in China.
Chinese censorship invades the U.S. via WeChat|Jeanne Whalen|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
College gives way to the greater demands of grad school, gainful employment, and career planning.
Adult Women Are the New Face of ADHD|Rae Jacobson|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Gainful corporations have no such power unless it has been granted by their charter or by statute.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
The proportion of the population engaged in gainful occupation at the present time is significant.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
For hospitals are not engaged in a gainful pursuit, regardless of all humanitarian considerations.
Making Both Ends Meet|Sue Ainslie Clark and Edith Wyatt
These convicts were transported by private shippers, and then sold into the colony; and thus it became a gainful enterprise.
History of the Negro Race in America From 1619 to 1880. Vol 1|George W. Williams
Roughly speaking, Great Britain has twenty million persons in gainful pursuits.
Mobilizing Woman-Power|Harriot Stanton Blatch

British Dictionary definitions for gainful

gainful

/ (ˈɡeɪnfʊl) /

adjective

profitable; lucrativegainful employment

Derived forms of gainful

gainfully, adverbgainfulness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gainful

Origin of gainful

OTHER WORDS FROM gainful

Words nearby gainful

Words related to gainful

How to use gainful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gainful

Derived forms of gainful