Definition of BENEFIT

benefit

Plural: benefits

Noun

  • financial assistance in time of need
  • something that aids or promotes well-being
    • "for the benefit of all"
  • a performance to raise money for a charitable cause
  • An advantage; help or aid from something.
  • A payment made in accordance with an insurance policy or a public assistance scheme.
  • An event, such as a theatrical performance, given to raise funds for some cause.
  • beneficence; liberality
  • Intended audience (as for the benefit of).

Verb

Verb Forms: benefited, benefiting, benefits, benefitted, benefitting

  • To gain an advantage or receive something helpful.
  • derive a benefit from
  • be beneficial for
  • To be or to provide a benefit to.
  • To receive a benefit (from); to be a beneficiary.

Examples

  • Everyone can benefit from memorizing the two-letter word list.
  • Exposure to cutting-edge technologies is one of the benefits of the job.
  • She can't read, so the voice recording was made for her benefit.
  • Since my wife is Canadian, whenever we have dinner with my family, they keep bringing up anything they've heard about Canada lately for her benefit.
  • The whole scene was staged for his benefit, and it completely fooled him.

Origin / Etymology

From Late Middle English benefytt, benefett, alteration (due to Latin bene-) of benfet, bienfet, bienfait (“good or noble deed”), from Anglo-Norman benfet (“well-done”), Middle French bienfait, from Old French bienfet, bienfait (“foredeal, favour”), from past participle of bienfaire (“to do good, do well”), from bien (“well”) + faire (“to do”), modelled after Latin benefactum (“good deed”). More at benefactor.

Scrabble Score: 12

benefit: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
benefit: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
benefit: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

benefit: valid Words With Friends Word