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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

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Etymology

Origin of benjamin

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

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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

When they were fat and well rubbed with benjamin they should be sent in ships to the ports of the Balearians.

From Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert

They also pronounce some prayers, anoint themselves with sweet-scented oils, and smoke the entrance of the cavern with gum- benjamin.

From Domestic Pleasures, or, the Happy Fire-side by Frances Bowyer Vaux

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

He left politics after that, and for a couple of years enjoyed one of those political plums, appointed by President Benjamin Harrison to be envoy and then minister plenipotentiary in Central America.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

Benjamin said biodiversity was "super important" for the island's air and water quality and the retention of habitats.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

Hundreds of Israelis took to the streets on Saturday to urge the opposition to ally with Arab parties to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has gone on the offensive against the minority group's leaders.

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026

That left an absolute majority out of reach for either Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or his rival Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

The final fair bill signed in April by President Benjamin Harrison established a Dedication Day for October 12, 1892, to honor the moment four hundred years earlier when Columbus had first sighted the New World.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

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

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