benefits
Americannoun
Usage
What does benefits mean? Benefits are things that are good or advantages, as in One of the benefits of owning a bookstore is I always have something to read. Benefits also refer to items companies give employees beyond payment for work, such as paid vacation time, a pension plan, and discounts on gym memberships. Governments also offer its citizens benefits, usually in the form of money for specific situations or needs. You might receive unemployment benefits when you’re out of work and can’t find a job. A disabled person can receive disability benefits when they are unable to work or to work full time. Benefits are also public entertainment or theatrical events that raise money for charitable causes. Example: Free lunch is one of my company’s biggest benefits.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Incomes fell slightly in February to mark the first decline in nine months, but it stemmed from a fifth straight drop in Medicaid benefits.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026
However, she also noted that any clean energy project should respect Tribal sovereignty, protect cultural and natural resources and ensure equitable benefits.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
A spokesperson said applications are also slowed by “1980s technology” it uses to administer benefits.
From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026
The findings also point to new opportunities for developing functional foods, dietary supplements, seasonings, or even fragrances that deliver stronger benefits using smaller amounts of active ingredients.
From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026
Despite the benefits of fire, 150,000 years ago humans were still marginal creatures.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
