beneficiary

American  

[ben-uh-fish-ee-er-ee, -fish-uh-ree] / ˌbɛn əˈfɪʃ iˌɛr i, -ˈfɪʃ ə ri /

noun

plural

beneficiaries

1. a person or group that receives benefits, profits, or advantages.

2. a person designated as the recipient of funds or other property under a will, trust, insurance policy, etc.

3. Ecclesiastical. the holder of a benefice.

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beneficiary British  

/ ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃərɪ /

noun

1. a person who gains or benefits in some way from something

2. law a person entitled to receive funds or other property under a trust, will, or insurance policy

3. the holder of an ecclesiastical or other benefice

4. a person who receives government assistance

   social security beneficiary

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adjective

1. of or relating to a benefice or the holder of a benefice

beneficiary Cultural  

1. The recipient of funds, property, or other benefits from an insurance policy, will, trust, or other settlement.

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Other Word Forms

• prebeneficiary noun

Etymology

Origin of beneficiary

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin beneficiārius, from benefici(um) benefice + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

Private credit has been a prime beneficiary owing to banking regulations enacted after the Enron fiasco of the early 2000s and the 2008-09 financial crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

I’m the beneficiary of birthright citizenship three times over.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

One potential beneficiary is hospital operator HCA Healthcare, which has historically grown revenue by 4% to 6% a year.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

That way, the beneficiary can continue to benefit from, say, the rise in the value of the shares in question.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

It would have been wholly within character for Holmes to have first persuaded the “brother-in-law” to take out a life insurance policy with Holmes as beneficiary.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• heir
• recipient