death benefit

American  

noun

1. the amount of money to be paid under the terms of an insurance policy to the designated beneficiary upon the death of the insured.

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Etymology

Origin of death benefit

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

death benefit

“My wife and I don’t have children, so the death benefit isn’t important to us,” the reader wrote.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 1, 2026

Even more daunting with IUL is that if you borrow against the policy or don’t keep feeding the premiums, you can end up depleting the death benefit and the cash value.

From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026

That is less than half the $800,000 cash-in value of Montana’s policy and a fraction of the death benefit, according to a court challenge she made this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2025

The railroad company he worked for gave Gianetsas, who could barely speak English at the time, a death benefit worth $1,500.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 20, 2024

Pay that premium, and I tell you now that the company will never pay a death benefit with less hesitation than it will pay this one.

From The Best Policy by Flower, Elliott