beneficiary

[ben-uh-fish-ee-er-ee, -fish-uh-ree]

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.

beneficiary

/ 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

adjective

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

beneficiary

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

Other Word Forms

• prebeneficiary noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of beneficiary¹

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

Example Sentences

Those are “lower in most cases than at the start of the year,” he added, with the notable exception of Alphabet, which has been the beneficiary of a dramatic shift in investor sentiment.

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Under the accounting rules, Meta is the primary beneficiary if two things are true.

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It’s also a chance to point out that while the West is accustomed to thinking of Ukraine as a beneficiary of military support, Kyiv has accumulated drone expertise that can contribute to European security.

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The men are among the beneficiaries of a major trust that will collect his remaining assets after all claims against the estate are resolved, called the 1953 Trust.

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“The biggest beneficiaries were the companies that came after, that bought the capacity for cheap,” Nguyen added.

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Related Words

• heir 
• recipient