beneficial

[ ben-uh-fish-uhl ]
/ ˌbɛn əˈfɪʃ əl /

adjective

conferring benefit; advantageous; helpful: the beneficial effect of sunshine.
Law.
  1. helpful in the meeting of needs: a beneficial association.
  2. involving the personal enjoyment of proceeds: a beneficial owner.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU FEEL THE WEAL WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ?

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Question 1 of 7
weal
well-being, prosperity, or happiness.
the intervening time.
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
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Origin of beneficial

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin beneficiālis, equivalent to Latin benefici(um) kindness (see benefice) + -ālis -al1

SYNONYMS FOR beneficial

1 salutary, wholesome, serviceable, useful, favorable, profitable.

ANTONYMS FOR beneficial

1 harmful.

OTHER WORDS FROM beneficial

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH beneficial

beneficent beneficial benevolent

Words nearby beneficial

benefactrix, benefic, benefice, beneficence, beneficent, beneficial, beneficiary, beneficiate, benefit, benefit in kind, benefit of clergy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for non-beneficial

beneficial
/ (ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl) /

adjective

(sometimes foll by to) causing a good result; advantageous
law entitling a person to receive the profits or proceeds of propertya beneficial interest in land

Derived forms of beneficial

beneficially, adverb

Word Origin for beneficial

C15: from Late Latin beneficiālis, from Latin beneficium kindness
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012