benefit
UK /ˈbɛn.ɪ.fɪt/ · US /ˈbɛn.ɪˌfɪt/ noun, verb
Forms benefits benefiting benefitting benefited benefitted benefite benifit
- noun An advantage; help or aid from something. “She can't read, so the voice recording was made for her benefit.”
- noun (insurance) A payment made in accordance with an insurance policy or a public assistance scheme.
- noun An event, such as a theatrical performance, given to raise funds for some cause.
- noun (obsolete) beneficence; liberality
- noun Intended audience (as for the benefit of). “The whole scene was staged for his benefit, and it completely fooled him.”
- verb (transitive) To be or to provide a benefit to.
- verb (intransitive) To receive a benefit (from); to be a beneficiary.
Synonyms
foredeal advantage aid assistance boon help percentage subsidy batten behoove welfare profit gain do good
Antonyms
harm disadvantage encumbrance hindrance malefit nuisance obstacle detriment malefic
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.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An act of kindness; a favor conferred.
- noun Whatever promotes prosperity and personal happiness, or adds value to property; advantage; profit.
- verb To be beneficial to; to do good to; to advantage; to advance in health or prosperity; to be useful to; to profit.
- verb To gain advantage; to make improvement; to profit; as, he will benefit by the change.
Etymology [OE. benefet, benfeet, bienfet, F. bienfait, fr. L. benefactum; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + factum, p. p. of facere to do. See Bounty, and Fact.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “benefit”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details