profile

noun pro·file \ ˈprō-ˌfī(-ə)l \

Updated on: 8 Dec 2017

Definition of profile

1 : a representation of something in outline; especially : a human head or face represented or seen in a side view

2 : an outline seen or represented in sharp relief : contour

3 : a side or sectional elevation: such as

a : a drawing showing a vertical section of the ground

b : a vertical section of a soil from the ground surface to the underlying unweathered material

4 : a set of data often in graphic form portraying the significant features of something

a corporation's earnings profile

; especially : a graph representing the extent to which an individual exhibits traits or abilities as determined by tests or ratings

5 : a concise biographical sketch

6 : degree or level of public exposure

trying to keep a low profile

a job with a high profile

See profile defined for English-language learners

See profile defined for kids

Examples of profile in a Sentence

His profile is very unusual.
An image of the President's profile appears on the coin.
I read a profile of her in a magazine.

Recent Examples of profile from the Web

Companies kept a low profile even as stocks surged on hopes that the conflict was over.

— esteban duarte, Bloomberg.com, "Catalonia’s Independence Movement Unravels as Rajoy Prevails," 31 Oct. 2017
At the event, the chefs, including such high-profile ones as Robert Irvine of Food Network fame and cookbook author Laurent Tourondel, put all sorts of creative spins on the menu staple.

— charles passy, WSJ, "At This Bash, It is All About Burgers Gone Wild," 12 Oct. 2017
The Sandra Levine Theatre will have 1,000 seats and will be the first high-profile public venue named for her in a region filled with sites named after her husband.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "Sandra Levine was the last to know Queens University was naming a theater in her honor | Charlotte Observer," 5 Nov. 2017
Kilroy has more than a dozen other buildings in the county with the most recent high-profile project being One Paseo in Carmel Valley.

— roger showley, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Kilroy plans Little Italy office-retail building," 2 Nov. 2017
After years of legal wrangling and a high-profile Supreme Court case that shook up how Texas doles out capital punishment, Harris County death row inmate Bobby Moore could end up with a life sentence.

— keri blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Prosecutors ask for life sentence for Texas death row inmate Bobby Moore," 1 Nov. 2017
The email, included in court papers unsealed Monday, shows how an otherwise low-profile adviser has become a focus of the federal probe into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "George Papadopoulos Is the First Crack in the Wall," 31 Oct. 2017
Fonda also noted that while high-profile cases get all of the media attention, harassment is an issue in all fields, particularly the service industry.

— madeleine aggeler, The Cut, "Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem on Race, Harassment, and Harvey Weinstein," 26 Oct. 2017
But even there, Mr. Agarwal tends to keep a low profile.

— scott patterson, WSJ, "Meet the Mining Industry’s Newest Mogul," 12 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'profile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of profile

Italian profilo, from profilare to draw in outline, from pro- forward (from Latin) + filare to spin, from Late Latin — more at file

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1638

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of profile

outline, contour, profile, silhouette mean the line that bounds and gives form to something. outline applies to a line marking the outer limits or edges of a body or mass.

- traced the outline of his hand

contour stresses the quality of an outline or a bounding surface as being smooth, jagged, curving, or sharply angled.

- a car with flowing contours

profile suggests a varied and sharply defined outline against a lighter background.

- a portrait of her face in profile

silhouette suggests a shape especially of a head or figure with all detail blacked out in shadow leaving only the outline clearly defined.

- photograph in silhouette against a bright sky

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

profile

verb

Definition of profile

profiled; profiling

transitive verb

1 : to represent in profile or by a profile : produce (as by drawing, writing, or graphing) a profile of

2 : to shape the outline of by passing a cutter around

3 : to subject to profiling

—

profiler

noun

See profile defined for English-language learners

Examples of profile in a Sentence

The mayor was profiled in the magazine last month.

Recent Examples of profile from the Web

Fortune's Claire Zillman profiles Isabel Ge Mahe, who in July was named the company's first-ever vice president and managing director of Greater China, and is a new entrant on our list of Most Powerful Women in international business.

— valentina zarya, Fortune, "Uber’s CEO Says Sorry, Gloria Allred’s Glory Days, Top Women in Banking," 26 Sep. 2017
Bloomberg’s Matthew Bristow profiles former guerrilla Gustavo Petro, the early frontrunner who wants to tax wealthy landowners and stock investors.

— brendan scott, Bloomberg.com, "Balance of Power: Want to Give Sanctions the Slip? Buy Bitcoin," 12 Sep. 2017
His business was profiled in Charlotte Magazine and won local accolades as a favorite place to buy seafood.

— ely portillo, charlotteobserver, "Popular store closes because of streetcar construction, owner says," 23 Oct. 2017
Throughout each day, the scientists will go on a 7-minute animated journey, profiling their careers.

— lindsay kimble, PEOPLE.com, "The Iconic Starry Ceiling Of New York City's Grand Central Terminal Is Getting a Female-Driven Makeover," 21 Sep. 2017
Eight years ago, Ozzie Newsome was profiled in The New York Times.

— jonas shaffer, baltimoresun.com, "Chiefs star Travis Kelce has a wild Ozzie Newsome anecdote," 20 Sep. 2017
Earlier this year a National Public Radio reporter profiled a Miami-area business that stole $34 million from 14 low-income-credit housing projects by submitting inflated construction cost data to the government.

— chris edwards and vanessa brown calder, WSJ, "Kill the Loopholes, Including the One for ‘Low-Income Housing’," 18 Sep. 2017
Filmmaker Lee profiles 10 independent artists, who turn friendships and virtual connections into real world collaborations.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Windsor Edition," 18 Sep. 2017
Brightmoor resident Jonathan Pommerville, who the Free Press profiled last May, said the cameras are a welcome addition in his neighborhood.

— katrease stafford, Detroit Free Press, "Illegal dumpers beware: Detroit to use hidden cameras in crack down effort," 6 Sep. 2017

First Known Use of profile

1664

PROFILE Defined for English Language Learners

profile

noun

Definition of profile for English Language Learners

: the shape of a head or face that is seen or drawn from the side
: the shape of something that is seen against a background
: a brief written description that provides information about someone or something

profile

verb

Definition of profile for English Language Learners

: to give a brief description that provides information about (someone or something)

PROFILE Defined for Kids

profile

noun pro·file \ ˈprō-ˌfīl \

Definition of profile for Students

1 : something (as a head or a mountain) seen or drawn from the side

2 : a level of activity that draws attention

As an actress, she can't avoid a high profile.

Medical Dictionary

profile

noun pro·file \ ˈprō-ˌfīl \

medical Definition of profile

1 : a set of data exhibiting the significant features of something and often obtained by multiple tests

the profile of CK isoenzymes in skeletal muscle
—A. J. Siegel & D. M. Dawson

2 : a graphic representation of the extent to which an individual or group exhibits traits as determined by tests or ratings

this group did not give a homogeneous personality profile
—Diseases of the Nervous System

profile

transitive verb

medical Definition of profile

profiled; profiling

: to represent in profile or by a profile : produce a profile of (as by writing or graphing)

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profile

Definition of profile

From the M-W Editors

Examples of profile in a Sentence

Recent Examples of profile from the Web

Origin and Etymology of profile

Synonym Discussion of profile

Other Fine Arts Terms

profile

Definition of profile

profiler

Examples of profile in a Sentence

Recent Examples of profile from the Web

First Known Use of profile

Phrases Related to PROFILE

Related Phrases

PROFILE Defined for English Language Learners

profile

Definition of profile for English Language Learners

profile

Definition of profile for English Language Learners

PROFILE Defined for Kids

profile

Definition of profile for Students

Medical Dictionary

profile

medical Definition of profile

profile

medical Definition of profile

Learn More about profile

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