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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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

“The biggest beneficiaries of transfer of oil from Venezuela to the U.S. will be existing creditors and hedge funds who have bought the distressed assets,” Raj told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch

“The biggest beneficiaries of transfer of oil from Venezuela to the U.S. will be existing creditors and hedge funds who have bought the distressed assets,” Raj told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch

Amusingly, Mr. Romney takes pains to point out that beneficiaries of this tax provision weren’t cheaters; they were playing by the rules.

From The Wall Street Journal

Only someone with legal standing — an executor, heir, creditor or beneficiary, for example — can typically file a petition in a case such as this.

From MarketWatch

Plenty of other strategists have expressed similar views that the AI trade won’t go away—and that its beneficiaries will shift.

From Barron's

Related Words

• heir
• recipient