beneficiary

American  

[ben-uh-fish-ee-er-ee, -fish-uh-ree] / ˌbɛn əˈfɪʃ iˌɛr i, -ˈfɪʃ ə ri /

noun

plural

beneficiaries

1. a person or group that receives benefits, profits, or advantages.

2. a person designated as the recipient of funds or other property under a will, trust, insurance policy, etc.

3. Ecclesiastical. the holder of a benefice.

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beneficiary British  

/ ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃərɪ /

noun

1. a person who gains or benefits in some way from something

2. law a person entitled to receive funds or other property under a trust, will, or insurance policy

3. the holder of an ecclesiastical or other benefice

4. a person who receives government assistance

   social security beneficiary

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adjective

1. of or relating to a benefice or the holder of a benefice

beneficiary Cultural  

1. The recipient of funds, property, or other benefits from an insurance policy, will, trust, or other settlement.

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Other Word Forms

• prebeneficiary
  noun

Etymology

Origin of beneficiary

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin beneficiārius, from benefici(um) benefice + -ārius -ary

Explanation

A beneficiary is simply the recipient of money or other benefits. So when your big sister finally moves away to college and you get to move into her bigger bedroom? You become a lucky beneficiary. In other words — if you benefit from something, you are a beneficiary. This word pops up most commonly when people are creating their wills and trusts — you have to choose beneficiaries as the people who will get what you have when you die. But it isn't always so morbid. You can be the beneficiary of someone's kindness, the beneficiary of a good education, or even the beneficiary of your own hard work.

Example Sentences

A family’s fight over a retirement account shows the pitfalls around updating beneficiary information.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

“Japan is a wide-ranging beneficiary across the whole AI supply chain,” says Shuntaro Takeuchi, portfolio manager for the Matthews Japan Fund.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

Before the beneficiary reaches age 18, the investment mix can’t be adjusted.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

Though supporters point out that, two years on from rejoining the flagship EU research programme, the UK has emerged as a leading beneficiary.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

Thanks to the CSPA, a beneficiary can retain “child” status even if they’ve reached age twenty-one.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Related Words

• heir
• recipient