beneficiate

transitive verb

ben·​e·​fi·​ci·​ate ˌbe-nə-ˈfi-shē-ˌāt How to pronounce beneficiate (audio)
-ed/-ing/-s
: to process (a raw material) so as to improve the physical and chemical properties: such as
a
: reduce
beneficiate ores
b
: to concentrate or otherwise prepare (iron ore) for smelting especially by drying, sintering, or magnetic concentration
beneficiation noun
plural -s

Word History

Etymology

Spanish beneficiar to benefit, to derive profit from working land or a mine, to beneficiate (from beneficio benefit, from Late Latin beneficium) + English -ate

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Cite this Entry

“Beneficiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beneficiate. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.

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