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• benjamin
  benjamin

  noun

  benzoin.
• Benjamin
  Benjamin

benjamin

¹ American  

[ben-juh-muhn] / ˈbɛn dʒə mən /

noun

• benjamins
  plural

1. benzoin.

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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.”

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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

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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

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benjamin ³ British  

/ ˈbɛndʒəmɪn /

noun

1. another name for benzoin

2. another name for spicebush

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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

After the opening, a poultice should be applied to cleanse the ulcer; after which it should be daily washed with the compound tincture of benjamin, and dressed with calamine ointment.

From The Dog by William Youatt

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

Quick, my friend; light with all convenient haste the altar on which we will burn again the incense and benjamin of friendship.

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

A Monday meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Board of Peace Chairman Nickolay Mladenov resulted in a public clarification along those less-trusting lines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Prof. Stefan Röpke studies trauma-related disorders at the Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences on the Benjamin Franklin Campus of Charité.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had yet to comment on the proposal by Friday afternoon, but several Israeli officials expressed skepticism if not outright rejection of the proposal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

The Israeli source said that "the issue of Gaza did not come up" in this week's meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington.

From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026

I had never allowed myself to imagine what happened after—Dad’s decision to leave him by the pickup, or the worried looks that must have passed between Luke and Benjamin.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

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