beneficent

adjective

be·​nef·​i·​cent bə-ˈne-fə-sənt 

1

: doing or producing good

a beneficent policy

especially : performing acts of kindness and charity

a beneficent leader

2

: beneficial

beneficent bacteria

beneficently adverb

Synonyms of beneficent

• benevolent
• compassionate
• kind
• sympathetic
• humane

Examples of beneficent in a Sentence

a humane and beneficent policy

a beneficent couple who are regular volunteers at a homeless shelter

Recent Examples on the Web

With the monetary system in a free-fall, some Iranians would rather have a beneficent king than all these pretenders oh-so-interested in the people. —Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026

But in Las Vegas, where spectacle-over-substance is kind of the whole point, the Wizard was a beneficent showman. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025

Far away from the old, broken planet, a libertarian utopia will flourish, under the beneficent sway of the Elon. —Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025

Plus, a lot of social policies that many Californians consider beneficent and broad-minded that, to put it mildly, others around the country consider much less so. —Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from beneficence

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for beneficent

• coefficient
• inefficient
• insufficient
• deficient
• efficient
• omniscient
• proficient
• sufficient

Kids Definition

beneficent

adjective

be·​nef·​i·​cent bə-ˈnef-ə-sənt 

: doing or producing good

especially : performing acts of kindness or charity

beneficently adverb