Jump To:

• benjamin
  benjamin

  noun

  benzoin.
• Benjamin
  Benjamin

benjamin

¹ American  

[ben-juh-muhn] / ˈbɛn dʒə mən /

noun

• benjamins
  plural

1. benzoin.

---

Benjamin ² American  

[ben-juh-muhn] / ˈbɛn dʒə mən /

noun

1. 1. (in the Bible) the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, and the brother of Joseph.

   2. one of the 12 tribes of ancient Israel, traditionally descended from him.

2. Asher, 1773–1845, U.S. architect and writer.

3. Judah Philip, 1811–84, Confederate statesman.

4. a first name: from a Hebrew word meaning “son of the right.”

---

Benjamin ¹ British  

/ ˈbɛndʒəmɪn /

noun

1. Old Testament

   1. the youngest and best-loved son of Jacob and Rachel (Genesis 35:16–18; 42:4)

   2. the tribe descended from this patriarch

   3. the territory of this tribe, northwest of the Dead Sea

2. archaic a youngest and favourite son

---

Benjamin ² British  

/ ˈbɛndʒəmɪn /

noun

1. Arthur . 1893–1960, Australian composer. In addition to Jamaican Rumba (1938), he wrote five operas and a harmonica concerto (1953)

2. Walter (ˈvaltər). 1892–1940, German critic and cultural theorist

---

benjamin ³ British  

/ ˈbɛndʒəmɪn /

noun

1. another name for benzoin

2. another name for spicebush

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• benjamins
  plural

Etymology

Origin of benjamin

1570–80; alteration (by association with the proper name) of benjoin, early form of benzoin ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

benjamin Benjamin benjamins

My son benjamin and I appeared twice on The Martha Stewart Show to talk about the family company, Divvies.

From Inc ● Dec. 8, 2011

As the bouncy benjamin of N.C.'s children, Andy enjoyed a special freedom from responsibility.

From Time Magazine Archive

Take six pennyworth of benjamin, as much of storax, six orris roots, and a little suet; beat and bruise them all together, and mix them with the stripped herbs.

From The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Adapted to the Use of Private Families by Mary Eaton

Taste, smell; I assure you, sir, pure benjamin, the only spirited scent that ever awaked a Neapolitan nostril.

From Cynthia's Revels by Ben Jonson

Grand Jean was a curious little man, lively and brisk as a bird or a squirrel, powdered, curled, and smelling of rose and benjamin as if he were still at Versailles or Choisi.

From Le Morvan, [A District of France,] Its Wild Sports, Vineyards and Forests; with Legends, Antiquities, Rural and Local Sketches by William Jesse

Benjamin Franklin said that “being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.”

From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026

Benjamin Harrop was seeking internal emails, messages and other communications about whether the government had a legal right to withhold the material.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed any prospect of a deal.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

Benjamin Franklin recalled his visit to Scotland in 1759 as providing “the densest happiness I have met with in any part of my life.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

You know how come your name Benjamin now.

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner

The Dove-Laners had been heavily thrashed: their benjamins and kicksies had been impounded in Meakin Street, and they had ceased from buying.

From A Child of the Jago by Arthur Morrison