beneficiary

American  

[ben-uh-fish-ee-er-ee, -fish-uh-ree] / ˌbɛn əˈfɪʃ iˌɛr i, -ˈfɪʃ ə ri /

noun

plural

beneficiaries

1. a person or group that receives benefits, profits, or advantages.

2. a person designated as the recipient of funds or other property under a will, trust, insurance policy, etc.

3. Ecclesiastical. the holder of a benefice.

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beneficiary British  

/ ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃərɪ /

noun

1. a person who gains or benefits in some way from something

2. law a person entitled to receive funds or other property under a trust, will, or insurance policy

3. the holder of an ecclesiastical or other benefice

4. a person who receives government assistance

   social security beneficiary

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adjective

1. of or relating to a benefice or the holder of a benefice

beneficiary Cultural  

1. The recipient of funds, property, or other benefits from an insurance policy, will, trust, or other settlement.

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Other Word Forms

• prebeneficiary noun

Etymology

Origin of beneficiary

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin beneficiārius, from benefici(um) benefice + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

South Dakota is one of a handful of states, including Nevada, Wyoming and Alaska, that have no income tax and allow people who set up trusts to also be a beneficiary of them.

From The Wall Street Journal

When a trust beneficiary approaches age 18, the biggest change is often the beneficiary’s legal right to control the assets — in this case, your grandnieces — and this coming deadline typically impacts your asset-allocation strategy.

From MarketWatch

Which stocks that have been left behind by the AI rally are underappreciated as potential beneficiaries?

From Barron's

“Eventually, however, this technology will spread out and all of us will be big beneficiaries,” he said.

From MarketWatch

During that time, beneficiaries aged 65 or above can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or ditch their Medicare Advantage plan and return to original Medicare.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• heir
• recipient