beneficence

American  

[buh-nef-uh-suhns] / bəˈnɛf ə səns /

noun

1. the doing of good; active goodness or kindness; charity.

2. a beneficent act or gift; benefaction.

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beneficence British  

/ bɪˈnɛfɪsəns /

noun

1. the act of doing good; kindness

2. a charitable act or gift

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonbeneficence
  noun

Etymology

Origin of beneficence

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; French bénéficence, from Latin beneficentia; see benefic, -ence

Explanation

If you show someone kindness or generosity, that's beneficence like when you shovel a neighbor's sidewalk or mow their lawn just to help out, no strings attached. Beneficence comes from the Latin word benefactum, meaning "good deed." That's exactly what beneficence is — helping someone just because you care, not because you want to be praised for being nice. Giving your time, skills, or even a donation of money or items shows beneficence. This word can also describe the character of a person who is helpful, caring, and compassionate.

Example Sentences

Beneficence was at the core of Hodges, and it seeped into his game.

From New York Times • Dec. 24, 2021

Beneficence, then, is the subject of reward; and the want of it is not the subject of punishment.

From Moral Science; a Compendium of Ethics by Bain, Alexander

The three great lights of the Lodge are symbols to us of the Power, Wisdom, and Beneficence of the Deity.

From Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Pike, Albert

In our religion we appropriate God to ourselves in the same way, but he knows us not in this private and particular way, though we are all sharers in the Universal Beneficence.

From Under the Maples by Burroughs, John

Beneficence has a much broader scope than the mere relief of the poor and suffering.

From A Manual of Moral Philosophy by Peabody, Andrew P. (Andrew Preston)