benevolent
Americanadjective
-
characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings.
a benevolent attitude; her benevolent smile.
-
desiring to help others; charitable.
gifts from several benevolent alumni.
- Synonyms:
- altruistic, philanthropic, benign, liberal, generous, humane, kind, good
-
intended for benefits rather than profit.
a benevolent institution.
adjective
-
intending or showing goodwill; kindly; friendly
a benevolent smile
a benevolent old man
-
doing good or giving aid to others, rather than making profit; charitable
a benevolent organization
Other Word Forms
- benevolently adverb
- benevolentness noun
- nonbenevolent adjective
- nonbenevolently adverb
- pseudobenevolent adjective
- pseudobenevolently adverb
- quasi-benevolent adjective
- quasi-benevolently adverb
- superbenevolent adjective
- superbenevolently adverb
- unbenevolent adjective
- unbenevolently adverb
Etymology
Origin of benevolent
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin benevolent-, stem of benevolēns “kindhearted, well-wishing,” from bene- bene- + volēns “willing, wishing” (present participle of velle “to want, wish”); voluntary
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.
And the federal government’s entry into migration sounds benevolent, but only one state had benevolent migration laws, and that was New York.
From Slate • Mar. 16, 2026
By 1908, Wilhelm’s attitude toward the U.S. was more benevolent, and he offered President Theodore Roosevelt an elite corps of Prussian soldiers to be posted in California, supposedly to fend off a Japanese invasion.
From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026
Sun Ra was a mythologist, in a very benevolent, deliberate, emancipative sense.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026
“My brother was a very benevolent, giving person who would help just about anybody,” Kurt’s brother, Peter Van Dyke, told the San Francisco Chronicle.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026
An ordained priest now, he presented a dignified, benevolent figure, but by the second hour of the reception it was clear he was crushed.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
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.
