benefit

[ ben-uh-fit ]

noun

1. something that is advantageous or good; an advantage:

   He explained the benefits of public ownership of the postal system.

   Synonyms: profit, gain, boon

2. 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.

3. a theatrical performance or other public entertainment to raise money for a charitable organization or cause.
4. Archaic. an act of kindness; good deed; benefaction.

verb (used with object)

, ben·e·fit·ed or ben·e·fit·ted, ben·e·fit·ing or ben·e·fit·ting.

1. to do good to; be of service to:

   a health program to benefit everyone.

verb (used without object)

, ben·e·fit·ed or ben·e·fit·ted, ben·e·fit·ing or ben·e·fit·ting.

1. to derive benefit or advantage; profit; make improvement:

   He has never benefited from all that experience.

benefit

/ ˈbɛnɪfɪt /

noun

1. something that improves or promotes
2. advantage or sake

   this is for your benefit

3. 1. 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
   2. any similar allowance in various other countries
4. 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
5. a theatrical performance, sports event, etc, to raise money for a charity

verb

1. to do or receive good; profit

Other Words From

• ben·e·fit·er ben·e·fit·ter noun
• pre·ben·e·fit verb prebenefited or prebenefitted prebenefiting or prebenefitting
• self-ben·e·fit noun
• self-ben·e·fit·ing self-ben·e·fit·ting adjective
• su·per·ben·e·fit noun
• un·ben·e·fit·ed un·ben·e·fit·ted adjective
• un·ben·e·fit·ing un·ben·e·fit·ting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of benefit¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English noun benefytt, benefett, alteration (with Latinized first syllable) of Middle English b(i)enfet, benefait, from Anglo-French benfet, Middle French bienfait, from Latin benefactum “good deed”; bene- ( def ), fact ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of benefit¹

C14: from Anglo-French benfet , from Latin benefactum , from bene facere to do well

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing benefit

see give the benefit .

Example Sentences

The risks of opening are uncertain, but the benefits are clear.

From Vox

One benefit of this setup, called a “stepped wedge trial,” is that it doesn’t relegate one block of individuals into a control group that goes without training for the duration of the study.

From Science News

Unnecessary state occupational licenses—often costly, time-consuming, and offering little benefit to consumers—should be eliminated.

From Fortune

There is one additional Flex 5G feature that sets it apart from competitors, and is both a big benefit and a big downside.

From Fortune

Praising the benefits of physical exercise helps little when jogging in a nearby neighborhood could cost your life.

From Fortune

Two-thirds of those who likely to benefit from the new policy are Mexican.

From The Daily Beast

Not for the benefit of the harasser, of course, but for your own safety.

From The Daily Beast

When the audience laughed he added that, “They think freedom would benefit them but they were cheated.”

From The Daily Beast

And in either case, “the significant benefit from allowing Wi-Fi hotspots outweighs these concerns.”

From The Daily Beast

“Hence, there might be a net benefit, at least to some females, of breeding within the natal group,” the researchers speculate.

From The Daily Beast

As he walked back to his hotel, his head was full of plans for the girl's transient pleasure and lasting benefit.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Spurrell came down to see a horse, and we shall be very glad to have the benefit of his opinion by-and-by.

From Project Gutenberg

These oral inanities only served to make Lyn give me the benefit of a look of amused wonder.

From Project Gutenberg

Once he permitted himself a digression, that he might point a moral for the benefit of his servant.

From Project Gutenberg

This lesson in figures is given for the benefit of those who have not yet mastered Numeric Thinking.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• advantage
• aid
• asset
• assistance
• gain
• help
• interest
• perk
• profit
• prosperity
• use
• welfare

When To Use

What are other ways to say benefit?

A benefit is something that is advantageous or good. When should you use benefit instead of advantage or profit? Find out on Thesaurus.com.