beneficiary

[ben-uh-fish-ee-er-ee, -fish-uh-ree]

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.

beneficiary

/ 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

adjective

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

beneficiary

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

Other Word Forms

• prebeneficiary noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of beneficiary¹

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

Example Sentences

However, Clarke and his players have been recent beneficiaries of flying out of the traps in a qualifying campaign.

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How do we know that Pfizer is the principal beneficiary of the deal?

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This includes everything from surveying and certifying nursing homes to assisting Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries and overseeing contracts or extra payments to rural ambulance providers.

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Milk has been one beneficiary of the protein craze.

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Baroness Mone said that a share of that sum was paid into a trust in the Isle of Man, of which she and her children are beneficiaries, and so potentially stand to receive the money.

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Related Words

• heir 
• recipient