beneficiation

1 of 2

noun

ben·​e·​fi·​ci·​a·​tion ˌbe-nə-ˌfi-shē-ˈā-shən 

: the treatment of raw material (such as iron ore) to improve physical or chemical properties especially in preparation for smelting

beneficiate

ˌbe-nə-ˈfi-shē-ˌāt 

transitive verb

beneficiate

2 of 2

transitive verb

ben·​e·​fi·​ci·​ate ˌbe-nə-ˈfi-shē-ˌāt 

-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

ˌbe-nə-ˌfi-shē-ˈā-shən 

noun

plural -s

Examples of beneficiation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

African calls for beneficiation, industrialization, and value addition were portrayed as economically naïve or protectionist. —W. Gyude Moore, semafor.com, 25 May 2026

Redistributing Refining Refining rare earth ore into rare earth oxides begins with a process called beneficiation in the industry. —IEEE Spectrum, 27 Dec. 2024

Sorted glass then goes through beneficiation to remove any contamination, such as bottle caps, labels, or metals. —Maria Marabito, Treehugger, 6 Apr. 2023

Copper mines use water for flotation beneficiation – the process of crushing ore and separating useless minerals – smelting and electro-refining. —Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 10 Oct. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Transitive verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1881, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for beneficiation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration