benefit

American  

[ben-uh-fit] / ˈbɛn ə fɪt /

noun

benefits plural

1. something that is advantageous or good; an advantage.

   He explained the benefits of public ownership of the postal system.

   Synonyms:

   profit, gain, boon

2. 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.

3. a theatrical performance or other public entertainment to raise money for a charitable organization or cause.

4. Archaic. an act of kindness; good deed; benefaction.

---

verb (used with object)

benefited, benefitted, benefiting, benefitting

1. to do good to; be of service to.

   a health program to benefit everyone.

verb (used without object)

benefited, benefitted, benefiting, benefitting

1. to derive benefit or advantage; profit; make improvement.

   He has never benefited from all that experience.

idioms

1. for someone's benefit, so as to produce a desired effect in another's mind.

   He wasn't really angry; that was just an act for his girlfriend's benefit.

benefit British  

/ ˈbɛnɪfɪt /

noun

1. something that improves or promotes

2. advantage or sake

   this is for your benefit

3. 1. 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

   2. any similar allowance in various other countries

4. (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

5. a theatrical performance, sports event, etc, to raise money for a charity

---

verb

1. to do or receive good; profit

benefit More Idioms  

1. see give the benefit.

---

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

• benefiter
  noun
• benefitter
  noun
• self-benefit
  noun
• superbenefit
  noun
• prebenefit
  verb
• self-benefiting
  adjective
• self-benefitting
  adjective
• unbenefited
  adjective
• unbenefiting
  adjective
• unbenefitted
  adjective
• unbenefitting
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• benefits
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

Larger studies will be needed to determine how much benefit probiotics may provide, which patients are most likely to respond, and whether the effects remain consistent across broader populations.

From Science Daily • Jun. 17, 2026

Taxpayers and the fisc therefore are already positioned to benefit from AI-related growth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

Intimacy was key to the sold-out “Andrew Bird and Friends” concert, which took over Largo on Saturday to benefit mental health organizations for healthcare workers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

The good news: There are AI stocks that can benefit from the boom, and they don’t come with the same level of volatility.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

Arranging for his remaining debts to be paid, he left “the use, profit and benefit of my whole Estate... for the term of her natural life” to Martha.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Related Words

• advance
• aid
• assist
• contribute to
• enhance
• favor
• further
• help
• improve
• pay
• pay off
• promote
• serve