beneficial
adjective
ben·e·fi·cial
ˌbe-nə-ˈfi-shəl 
1
: producing good results or helpful effects : conferring benefits (see benefit entry 1 sense 1)
the beneficial effects of regular exercise
insects that are beneficial to your garden
2
: receiving or entitling one to receive advantage, use, or benefit
a beneficial owner of securities
a beneficial interest in an estate
beneficialness
noun
Examples of beneficial in a Sentence
He hopes the new drug will prove beneficial to many people.
Regular exercise has many beneficial health effects.
They have a relationship that is beneficial to both of them.
Some insects are harmful but others are beneficial.
Recent Examples on the Web
According to data from MarineTraffic, a vessel tracking platform owned by Kpler, the Skipper's registered owner is Triton Navigation Corporation; its beneficial owner is listed as Thomarose Global Ventures.
—
Victoria Beaule, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
And that composted banana peel is likely more beneficial to soil as a physical component of soil than as a nutrition source.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025
That composition includes both beneficial bacteria that can exert a positive influence and harmful bacteria (or pathogens) that can do the opposite.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 12 Dec. 2025
These close evolutionary neighbors sometimes share DNA, including potentially beneficial mutations, by mating across the species lines defined by humans’ classification systems.
—David Toews, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beneficial
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Victoria Beaule, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
And that composted banana peel is likely more beneficial to soil as a physical component of soil than as a nutrition source.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Dec. 2025
That composition includes both beneficial bacteria that can exert a positive influence and harmful bacteria (or pathogens) that can do the opposite.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 12 Dec. 2025
These close evolutionary neighbors sometimes share DNA, including potentially beneficial mutations, by mating across the species lines defined by humans’ classification systems.
—David Toews, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beneficial
Cite this Entry
“Beneficial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beneficial. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
beneficial
adjective
ben·e·fi·cial
ˌben-ə-ˈfish-əl
: producing results that are good for health and happiness
beneficialness
noun
Legal Definition
beneficial
adjective
ben·e·fi·cial
ˌbe-nə-ˈfi-shəl
1
: providing benefits or advantages
2
: receiving or entitling one to receive an advantage, benefit, or use
a beneficial shareholder
a beneficial estate
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