0 a person who takes advantage of a situation in which other people are suffering to make a profit, often by selling goods that are difficult to get at a high price:
a war profiteer
1 a person or organization that takes unfair advantage of a situation to make a large profit, often by selling goods that are difficult to get at a very high price:
The country's dependence on imported merchandise made it vulnerable to supply disruptions, with shortages creating opportunities for ' profiteering ' by those with access to scarce goods.
But profiteering was not the only objectionable behavior.
This is not to say that it was enforced uniformly, systematically, or consistently, or that its enforcement was not sometimes governed by profiteering.
Scarcities, blackmarketeering and profiteering had a deep and lasting impact on society.
They buy small quantities from profiteers or from the state by queuing and with their ration coupons.
The scope for profiteering by traders was therefore limited.
Nationalist politicians pointed out that the illicit liquor trade was so lucrative that fines failed to deter its profiteers.
Unfortunately, the ethical proscriptions have been emasculated by financial pressures, by increasing commercialism of academic medicine, and by profiteering.
