beneficial

[ben-uh-fish-uhl]

adjective

1. conferring benefit; advantageous; helpful.

   the beneficial effect of sunshine.

   Synonyms: profitable, favorable, useful, serviceable, wholesome, salutary
   Antonyms: harmful

2. Law.

   1. helpful in the meeting of needs.

      a beneficial association.

   2. involving the personal enjoyment of proceeds.

      a beneficial owner.

beneficial

/ ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl /

adjective

1. (sometimes foll by to) causing a good result; advantageous

2. law entitling a person to receive the profits or proceeds of property

   a beneficial interest in land

Other Word Forms

• beneficially adverb
• beneficialness noun
• nonbeneficial adjective
• nonbeneficially adverb
• nonbeneficialness noun
• quasi-beneficial adjective
• quasi-beneficially adverb
• unbeneficial adjective
• unbeneficially adverb
• unbeneficialness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of beneficial¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Late Latin beneficiālis, equivalent to Latin benefici(um) “kindness” ( benefice ( def. ) ) + -ālis -al ¹ ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of beneficial¹

C15: from Late Latin beneficiālis , from Latin beneficium kindness

Example Sentences

In a post on X, the weather service predicted that the rainfall will be ‘widespread and beneficial,’ with little flooding anticipated.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In four new studies published in ACS journals, researchers reveal how food waste can offer eco-friendly tools for agriculture and new sources of beneficial compounds for medicine.

Read more on Science Daily

In a post on X, the weather service predicted that the rainfall will be “widespread and beneficial,” with little flooding anticipated.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

These women are professionals who care about people, wildlife and the mutually beneficial relationship between the two.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Excessive digital consumption also reduces the time kids spend engaging in beneficial activities.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• benign 
• constructive 
• favorable 
• good 
• helpful 
• profitable 
• useful 
• valuable