cash cow

noun

1
: a consistently profitable business, property, or product whose profits are used to finance a company's investments in other areas
2
: one regarded or exploited as a reliable source of money
a singer deemed a cash cow for the record label

Examples of cash cow in a Sentence

The football team was a cash cow for the university. The movie studio saw the actress as a cash cow.
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.
Powell has had a great 2024 with the carryover success of rom-com Anyone But You, a $103 million profitable cash cow for Sony with a $220M global gross and $25M production cost, as well as the big summer success of Twisters which grossed $371M around the world. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2024 The decision will save UF another massive investment in overhauling its cash cow. Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2024 This cash cow stays well fed in all economic environments. Brett Owens, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 Investors will also want to know where airplane deliveries from here, including Boeing’s 737 Max cash cow. Fred Imbert, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cash cow 

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cash cow was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near cash cow

Cite this Entry

“Cash cow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cash%20cow. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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