benefaction

noun

ben·​e·​fac·​tion ˌbe-nə-ˈfak-shən How to pronounce benefaction (audio)
1
: the act of benefiting
2
: a benefit conferred
especially : a charitable donation

Examples of benefaction in a Sentence

the generous benefaction from an anonymous donor meant the animal shelter could stay open
Recent Examples on the Web The evening ended with the iconic funk band The Bar-Kays bringing everyone to the dance floor for a boogie to celebrate a night of benefaction. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 5 Mar. 2024 Clear thinking, unvarnished assessments, and reference to those timeless lessons: These are the benefactions that National Review Institute brings to the public square. Peter J. Travers, National Review, 30 Dec. 2023 All the same, today Alaska’s on-a-bun benefaction is a dog made with lean, delicately gamy reindeer. J. J. Goode, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2023 But the full scale of Crow’s benefactions has never been revealed. Joshua Kaplan, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2023 Its grand eighteenth-century buildings were dominated by the huge Codrington Library, named after the West Indian slave owner whose benefaction enriched his old college. Fara Dabhoiwala, The New York Review of Books, 1 July 2021 One thing is crystal clear: This industry has been built off the backs of workers who are underpaid, who have to depend on your benefaction. Corby Kummer, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2020 Major donors to the $4-million-plus project include a royal benefaction from Jordan's King Abdullah II, and $1.3-million gift from Mica Ertegun to the World Monuments Fund in support of the project. National Geographic, 26 Oct. 2016 Major donors to the $4-million-plus project include a royal benefaction from Jordan's King Abdullah II, and $1.3-million gift from Mica Ertegun to the World Monuments Fund in support of the project. National Geographic, 26 Oct. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'benefaction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin benefaction-, benefactio, from Latin bene facere to do good to, from bene + facere to do — more at do

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of benefaction was in 1635

Dictionary Entries Near benefaction

Cite this Entry

“Benefaction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benefaction. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

benefaction

noun
bene·​fac·​tion
ˈben-ə-ˌfak-shən,
ˌben-ə-ˈfak-
1
: the action of benefiting
2
: a benefit given
especially : a donation to charity

More from Merriam-Webster on benefaction

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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