benefit

1 of 2

noun

ben·​e·​fit ˈbe-nə-ˌfit How to pronounce benefit (audio)
1
a
: 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 benefit
b
: useful aid : help
without the benefit of a lawyer
2
a
: financial help in time of sickness, old age, or unemployment
is on unemployment benefit
a disability benefit
a family on benefits
b
: a payment or service provided for under an annuity, pension plan, or insurance policy
collecting his retirement benefits
c
: 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.
3
: an entertainment or social event to raise funds for a person or cause
holding a benefit to raise money for the school
4
archaic : an act of kindness : benefaction

benefit

2 of 2

verb

benefited ˈbe-nə-ˌfi-təd How to pronounce benefit (audio) also benefitted; benefiting also benefitting

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
benefiter noun

Examples of benefit in a Sentence

Noun 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. Verb 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 on the Web
Noun
Development and installation for Infinity Kitchen is expensive—about half a million dollars—but Sweetgreen expects to see a seven-point benefit to margins for restaurants with the system. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 It was filmed and eventually streamed during the early days of the pandemic in 2019 as a benefit for The Actor’s Fund (Entertainment Community Fund). Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024 The Sierra Club and other opponents say the project's benefits favor suburban commuters over Black and brown people living near the freeway — many of whom don't own cars. Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024 Time after time, our writers have cleared the media fog — with your help, and for all of our benefit. Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review, 21 Mar. 2024 The toxic spaces didn’t reconstitute themselves, and rule-abiding Redditors got the benefits of a cleaner, less hateful platform. Kevin Roose, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 The benefits outweighed any risk of side effects, his physician said. Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024 There’s still a long way to go before all craft-specific terms as well as weighty general terms (including the benefits plan and use of AI) of a new deal are agreed upon. Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024 Early on, Geter identified the wellness benefits of remote work for Black women. Ebony Flake, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
Purchasing a home is a major life decision, and some people will always benefit from the assurance of a broker, Juncosa said. John Towfighi, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 Either way, Hanushek says families need a wake-up call – and facing this urgent gap would benefit the nation’s economy. USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 During much of the 2010s, the United States benefited as large numbers of China’s top minds moved to American universities to complete doctoral degrees. Cade Metz, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Clearly, sanctions on Russian aluminum would benefit rather than hurt Western economies. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 However, emerging research shows that people may benefit more from the active form of folate, 5-MTHF. Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Verywell Health, 22 Mar. 2024 That’s an example of how nostalgia tends to improve presidential ratings after the fact, but also of how Trump currently benefits from the retrospective glow of the relatively good economic times of his first three years in office. David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024 The health of our skin and hair can also benefit from the consumption of certain foods. María Quiles, Glamour, 21 Mar. 2024 Google still routinely publishes its research publicly to benefit the broader AI community, Park said. Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'benefit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French benfet, from Latin bene factum, from neuter of bene factus, past participle of bene facere

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of benefit was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near benefit

Cite this Entry

“Benefit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benefit. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

benefit

1 of 2 noun
ben·​e·​fit ˈben-ə-ˌfit How to pronounce benefit (audio)
1
a
: something that does good to a person or thing
the benefits of fresh air and sunshine
b
: useful aid : help
had to perform without the benefit of a rehearsal
2
a
: money paid at death or when sick, retired, or unemployed (as by an insurance company or public agency)
b
: something (as health insurance or vacation time) provided to a worker by an employer in addition to pay
3
: an entertainment or social event to raise funds for a person or cause

benefit

2 of 2 verb
benefited
-ˌfit-əd
also benefitted; benefiting also benefitting
1
: to be useful or profitable to
medicines that benefit all
2
: to receive benefit
I benefited from the experience
Etymology

Noun

Middle English benefet, benefit "good deed," derived from Latin bene factum (same meaning), from bene factus, past participle of bene facere "to do good," from bene "well" (akin to bonus "good") and facere "to do, make" — related to bonus, fashion

Legal Definition

benefit

noun
ben·​e·​fit
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

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

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.

3
a
: 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
benefit verb

More from Merriam-Webster on benefit

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