risk-benefit

American  

[risk-ben-uh-fit] / ˈrɪskˈbɛn ə fɪt /

adjective

1. involving studies, testing, etc., to establish whether the benefits, as of a course of medical treatment, outweigh the risks involved.

   to arrive at a risk-benefit ratio.

---

Etymology

Origin of risk-benefit

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

“As with any insurance, there’s a risk-benefit analysis,” Michael Page of Boston’s Hingham Jewelers told me.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 3, 2026

While the outcome was a “surprise,” it didn’t represent a new safety signal for Elevidys, nor did it change the risk-benefit balance for the treatment, Ingram said at the time.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

Many experts point out that the initiation of HRT must be within 10 years of the onset of menopause, because the data clearly demonstrate that the risk-benefit ratio becomes unfavorable when initiated after 60.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 10, 2025

Hopefully many of them will update their risk-benefit analysis and get vaccinated, he says.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2025

"Understanding this risk-benefit trade-off for seafood consumption is important for people making decisions about diet, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant people and children," Romano said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2024