Definition of benefit
1 archaic : an act of kindness : benefaction
2a : something that produces good or helpful results or effects or that promotes well-being : advantage discounted prices and other benefits of a museum membership The benefits outweigh the risks of taking the drug. reaping the benefits of their hard work changes that will be to your benefitb : useful aid : help without the benefit of a lawyer
3a : financial help in time of sickness, old age, or unemployment is on unemployment benefit a disability benefit a family on benefitsb : a payment or service provided for under an annuity, pension plan, or insurance policy collecting his retirement benefitsc : a service (such as health insurance) or right (as to take vacation time) provided by an employer in addition to wages or salary The job doesn't pay much, but the benefits are good.
4 : an entertainment or social event to raise funds for a person or cause holding a benefit to raise money for the school
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Examples of benefit in a Sentence
the benefits of fresh air and sunshine
A benefit of museum membership is that purchases are discounted.
There are many financial benefits to owning your own home.
She is just now starting to reap the benefits of all her hard work.
The benefits of taking the drug outweigh its risks.
I see no benefit in changing the system now.
We're lucky to be able to get the full benefit of her knowledge.
He began collecting his retirement benefits when he was 65.
He began collecting his retirement benefit when he was 65.
The job doesn't pay much, but the benefits are good.
Recent Examples of benefit from the Web
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That outline explained how money would be spent on the program — on Medicaid, tax benefits for holders of health savings accounts, and tax credits for individuals buying their own insurance.
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That means that the biggest financial benefits would go to older Americans, like, say, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
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New federal data shows millions of Americans who are retired or nearing retirement face this burden, as well as the possibility of having their Social Security benefits garnished to make payments.
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As Trump blusters about repealing Obamacare, many Americans have come to appreciate the benefits of the law more.
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On social media, some accused the pediatrician’s accusers of trying to get some sort of benefit.
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For the benefit of a national television audience, the University of Hawaii boiled its entire 14-game football season of 2016 down to one all-encompassing game.
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Both policies are in addition to short-term disability benefits.
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The concert was a benefit for the Marines' Toys for Tots program.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'benefit'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of benefit
Middle English, from Anglo-French benfet, from Latin bene factum, from neuter of bene factus, past participle of bene facere
Other Business Terms
benefit
Definition of benefit
benefited
\-ˌfi-təd\ alsobenefitted
;benefiting
alsobenefitting
transitive verb
: to be useful or profitable to tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy held a fund-raiser to benefit her campaign
intransitive verb
: to receive help or an advantage : to receive benefit patients who will benefit from the drug has benefited from his experiences in the military
Examples of benefit in a Sentence
The new plan may benefit many students.
medicines that benefit thousands of people
The politician held a fund-raiser to benefit his campaign.
Some critics say that the tax cuts only benefit wealthy people.
He'll benefit by having experiences I never did.
Recent Examples of benefit from the Web
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Many undocumented immigrants and workers on temporary visas pay into Social Security and Medicare without ever benefiting from those programs.
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The proposal called for increased income tax rates, as well as the elimination of a controversial tax exemption that benefited business owners.
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The show would benefit from Diane’s being the only lead.
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One should ask who benefits most when the United States intelligence agencies are impaired in their operations.
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Generous agricultural subsidies mostly benefit large farms.
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There’s an entire subgenre of journalism about people who benefit from Obamacare but still oppose the law and/or support Donald Trump, who promised to repeal it.
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The party, and progressives more broadly, could take up a friendly posture toward state and local governance on the grounds that Americans should directly influence the laws that constrain them and the policies that supposedly benefit them.
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Murphy's Bar & Grill hosted Miracle on Merchant Street, a Christmas dinner and toy drive to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii, on Dec. 7.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'benefit'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of benefit
see 1benefit
BENEFIT Defined for English Language Learners
benefit
playDefinition of benefit for English Language Learners
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: a good or helpful result or effect
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: money that is paid by a company (such as an insurance company) or by a government when someone dies, becomes sick, stops working, etc.
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: something extra (such as vacation time or health insurance) that is given by an employer to workers in addition to their regular pay
benefit
Definition of benefit for English Language Learners
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: to be useful or helpful to (someone or something)
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: to be helped
BENEFIT Defined for Kids
Definition of benefit for Students
1 : a good or helpful result or effect the benefits of fresh air
2 : useful assistance : help … he is an orphan whom I raised myself without benefit of governess … — Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth
3 : money paid in time of death, sickness, or unemployment or in old age (as by an insurance company)
Definition of benefit for Students
benefited
;benefiting
1 : to be useful or profitable to The changes will benefit everyone.
2 : to be helped He'll benefit from new experiences.
Law Dictionary
benefit
Legal Definition of benefit
1 : something that provides an advantage or gain; specifically : an enhancement of property value, enjoyment of facilities, or increase in general prosperity arising from a public improvement general benefit : a benefit to the community at large resulting from a public improvement special benefit : a benefit from a public improvement that directly enhances the value of particular property and is not shared by the community at large Editor's note: In proceedings for a partial taking for the purpose of a public improvement, the condemning authority may use a special benefit to the remaining land as a set-off against the landowner's damages for the taking.
2 in the civil law of Louisiana : a right especially that serves to limit a person's liability benefit of discussion : the right of a surety being sued to compel the suing creditor to sue the principal first benefit of division : the right of a surety being sued to compel the suing creditor to also sue the cosureties; also : the right of the surety to be liable only for his or her proportionate share of the debt benefit of inventory : the right of an heir to be held liable for the debts of the estate only to the extent of the assets in the estate Editor's note: The heir obtains the benefit of inventory by having a qualified public officer (as a notary public) make an inventory of the assets in the estate within the time period set by statute.
3a : financial help in time of disability, sickness, old age, or unemployment b : payment or service provided for under an annuity, pension plan, or insurance policy — see also death benefit c : fringe benefit
benefit
verbLearn More about benefit
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See words that rhyme with benefit Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for benefit Spanish Central: Translation of benefit Nglish: Translation of benefit for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of benefit for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about benefit
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