benefaction

American  

[ben-uh-fak-shuhn, ben-uh-fak-] / ˈbɛn əˌfæk ʃən, ˌbɛn əˈfæk- /

noun

1. an act of conferring a benefit; the doing of good; a good deed.

   He is known throughout the region for his many benefactions.

2. the benefit conferred; charitable donation.

   to solicit benefactions for earthquake victims.

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benefaction British  

/ ˌbɛnɪˈfækʃən /

noun

1. the act of doing good, esp by giving a donation to charity

2. the donation or help given

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Etymology

Origin of benefaction

1655–65; < Late Latin benefactiōn- (stem of benefactiō ), equivalent to Latin bene bene- + fact ( us ) done ( see fact) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Benefaction is the act of being both extremely kind and very helpful. Your benefaction, volunteering every day and donating monthly, helps your local animal shelter immensely. Benefaction is the process or action of benefitting someone, particularly when you're motivated by kindness. When your neighbor is gravely ill and everyone on your street takes turns cooking meals for their family, that's a type of benefaction. Another way to use the word is to mean "donation." Your mom might appreciate it if you give a benefaction to her favorite charity instead of buying her a birthday gift this year.

Example Sentences

And although man works the fields, he does so beneath a heavenly, not a monarchic, benefaction.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Calling himself a “venture philanthropist,” he expected his benefaction to bring more than a pat on the back and naming rights.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2021

Instead of experiencing a benefaction as a good turn, people sometimes regard it as a mere payment of what they are owed, for which no one deserves any moral credit.

From Salon • Aug. 7, 2018

Varenne had had a number of wealthy patrons and the cumulative result of their benefaction was her “perfectly furnished” apartment in the Marais section of Paris.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2014

It also indicates enough interest in formal learning to make such a benefaction worthwhile—as opposed, say, to paying more dancers to paint themselves purple and dance on wine-soaked streets.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro