betterment

noun

bet·​ter·​ment ˈbe-tər-mənt 

1

: a making or becoming better

2

: an improvement that adds to the value of a property or facility

Examples of betterment in a Sentence

working for the betterment of the lives of working people

Recent Examples on the Web

Last fall, his work earned him a Kyoto Prize, an international award given to people whose work is devoted to the betterment of humanity. —Gary Robbins, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025

Speaking Monday, Breslow made a point to reference how past Red Sox championship teams were comprised of players who were willing to make sacrifices for the betterment of the team. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 June 2025

Yet factories in developing countries are often portrayed as hot, uncomfortable, dangerous, and wholly unwelcoming places where workers are conscripted against their interests to toil for the betterment of the faraway West. —Tony Morley, National Review, 17 June 2025

Kingsley considered science and technology tools for human betterment given by God so that humanity might align itself with God’s will. —Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

better entry 2 + -ment

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing betterment

• self-betterment

Kids Definition

betterment

noun

bet·​ter·​ment ˈbet-ər-mənt 

: improvement sense 1