benefit
[ben-uh-fit]
- something that is advantageous or good; an advantage: He explained the benefits of public ownership of the postal system.
- a payment or gift, as one made to help someone or given by an employer, an insurance company, or a public agency: The company offers its employees a pension plan, free health insurance, and other benefits.
- a theatrical performance or other public entertainment to raise money for a charitable organization or cause.
- Archaic. an act of kindness; good deed; benefaction.
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- to do good to; be of service to: a health program to benefit everyone.
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- to derive benefit or advantage; profit; make improvement: He has never benefited from all that experience.
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- for (someone's) benefit, so as to produce a desired effect in another's mind: He wasn't really angry; that was just an act for his girlfriend's benefit.
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Origin of benefit
Synonyms
See more synonyms for benefit on Thesaurus.com1. favor, service.
Synonym study
1. See advantage.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
benefit
- something that improves or promotes
- advantage or sakethis is for your benefit
- British
- an allowance paid by the government as for sickness, unemployment, etc, to which a person is entitled under social security or the national insurance scheme
- any similar allowance in various other countries
- (sometimes plural) a payment or series of payments made by an institution, such as an insurance company or trade union, to a person who is ill, unemployed, etc
- a theatrical performance, sports event, etc, to raise money for a charity
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- to do or receive good; profit
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Word Origin
C14: from Anglo-French benfet, from Latin benefactum, from bene facere to do well
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for benefiter
benefit
n.
late 14c., "good or noble deed," also "advantage, profit," from Anglo-French benfet "well-done," from Latin benefactum "good deed," from bene facere (see benefactor). Meaning "performance or entertainment to raise money for some charitable cause" is from 1680s.
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benefit
v.
late 15c., from benefit (n.). Related: Benefited; benefiting.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with benefiter
benefit
see give the benefit.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.