beneficial

American  

[ben-uh-fish-uhl] / ˌbɛn əˈfɪʃ əl /

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 British  

/ 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

Etymology

Origin of beneficial

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

Example Sentences

“I do think it’s unfair on chimps, but it is very good for our bookings,” O’Leary said, adding that the spat was likely beneficial for X, too.

From The Wall Street Journal

Carney said in the speech that for a time it was useful, allowing for a variety of mutually beneficial economic and security policies, but now “the bargain no longer works.”

From Salon

These experiments also identified probiotic effects, indicating bamboo may help support gut health by encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria.

From Science Daily

"City have spent more than most but brought in more than most too. Doing that has been really beneficial to them. That is the aspect which is not being picked up by fans."

From BBC

Ant and Dec's move to YouTube will be as beneficial to the video platform as it is to the Geordie TV duo, according to Hudson.

From BBC

Related Words

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