benefit
Americannoun
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benefits
plural
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something that is advantageous or good; an advantage.
He explained the benefits of public ownership of the postal system.
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a payment or gift, as one made to help someone or given by an employer, an insurance company, or a public agency.
The company offers its employees a pension plan, free health insurance, and other benefits.
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a theatrical performance or other public entertainment to raise money for a charitable organization or cause.
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Archaic. an act of kindness; good deed; benefaction.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
idioms
noun
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something that improves or promotes
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advantage or sake
this is for your benefit
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an allowance paid by the government as for sickness, unemployment, etc, to which a person is entitled under social security or the national insurance scheme
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any similar allowance in various other countries
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(sometimes plural) a payment or series of payments made by an institution, such as an insurance company or trade union, to a person who is ill, unemployed, etc
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a theatrical performance, sports event, etc, to raise money for a charity
verb
Usage
What are other ways to say benefit?
A benefit is something that is advantageous or good. When should you use benefit instead of advantage or profit? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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benefiternoun
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benefitternoun
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self-benefitnoun
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superbenefitnoun
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prebenefitverb
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self-benefitingadjective
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self-benefittingadjective
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unbenefitedadjective
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unbenefitingadjective
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unbenefittedadjective
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unbenefittingadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of benefit
First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English noun benefytt, benefett, alteration (with Latinized first syllable) of Middle English b(i)enfet, benefait, from Anglo-French benfet, Middle French bienfait, from Latin benefactum “good deed”; see bene- ( def. ), fact ( def. )
Explanation
A benefit is something that helps you, whether in the form of health insurance provided by an employer, welfare given by the government to those in need, or the benefit of the doubt extended to you by a friend. The Latin bene- "good" is at the heart of the word benefit, which derives from the Latin benefactum "good deed." When attendance at a party or an event raises money for a charity, the event is referred to as a benefit in that charity's honor.
Vocabulary lists containing benefit
Take the Bad with the Good: Bene and Mal
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Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 11-20
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"The Perils of Indifference," Vocabulary from the speech
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Along the entire coast, public infrastructure that we all benefit from is under threat, including roadways, parks and railroad tracks, and that’s where any public investment ought to go.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
See: Who will benefit more from AI agents when it comes to spending – companies or you?
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 17, 2026
Such treatments could eventually benefit people who have difficulty exercising, including those recovering from major surgery, serious illness, or chronic conditions such as cancer.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
"You cannot miss out on the 100,000 people who will come. From a business standpoint, you stand to benefit," he told AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
I noticed that Rasseem had slunk away without so much as a nod once he had seen there was no benefit for him.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
The animal charity's Medway West branch has launched to offer cut-price care for the pets of people on low incomes or receiving benefits.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
It cost an average of $2.34 per mile to operate a truck in 2025, and about 44% of that represents driver wages and benefits, according to the American Transportation Research Institute.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
Making more efficient use of such an expensive facility could provide substantial benefits to astronomers and the wider scientific community, potentially allowing more important discoveries to be made with the available observing time.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
It leaves open how the resulting benefits will be shared among customers, suppliers and shareholders.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
The financial benefits of becoming a permanent resident would also finally ease the burden of college tuition on my parents.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
It was important to them that if they were going to tell a story about Puerto Rico that was also shot in Puerto Rico, that Puerto Ricans on the island actually benefited from the production.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
The sport's elite clubs and players have benefited from investment and visibility, yet much of the global workforce remains vulnerable.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
Even as some American manufacturers have benefited as their foreign competitors encounter higher barriers, others struggle with ballooning costs and persistent uncertainty.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
On the other hand, it has benefited from higher prices and its traders being able to sell liquefied natural gas from North America to higher-paying European customers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
He would’ve really benefited from this.Her phone rang again.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
And investors buying Treasurys today could potentially collect 5%-plus income while also benefiting from capital appreciation if yields fall.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Its work aims to improve understanding of common diseases and translate laboratory discoveries into new approaches to treatment, benefiting patients in Singapore and internationally.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
Halloween's growing popularity is also benefiting supermarkets and retailers selling sweets, decorations and party supplies.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
It also projected that its larger package of restaurant improvements could generate approximately $100,000 in annual gross cash-flow benefits for an average U.S. restaurant, with most of those gains eventually benefiting the bottom line.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
No one had any doubt that it was not the animals but their owners who were benefiting from the law.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
Bitcoin has, along with gold and silver, also benefitted from the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Ghana has been spearheading a global campaign for institutions and nations across the world that benefitted from the slave trade to pay reparations.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
"If we had started this years ago, everyone would have benefitted," he said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
In the new era of revenue sharing, particularly because of NIL rights, student athletes have benefitted.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Washington did not think his slaves “would be benefitted by the change,” he wrote to his personal secretary.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
As Alonso's rivals went into the pits, the Spaniard, benefitting from the reduced gaps caused by the safety car, moved up the field and went on to win the race.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Appears to be benefitting from a run of games with the same back four.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Tesla shares may also be benefitting from the company’s recent disclosure that it would provide details next month about the European launch of its electric Semi truck.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
Meanwhile, groups such as his are benefitting from the government brain drain.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
I think nothing is really pleasure as compared with the blessedness of benefitting others.
From The Harvest of Years by Martha Lewis Beckwith Ewell
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