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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

benefit en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈbɛn.ɪˌfɪt/ (Canada, General-American)
  • /ˈbɛn.ɪ.fɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈbɛn.əˌfɪt/ (Canada, General-American)
  • /ˈben.ə.fɪt/ (Australia)
  • /ˈben.ə.fət/ (New-Zealand)
  • (US) audio
  • bĕn'əfĭt (Canada, General-American)
  • bĕn'ĭfĭt (Canada, General-American)

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.

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) An advantage; help or aid from something.
    • For the trip over the grass-covered sleepers and between the cow-parsley and briars, an open wagon was added to the usual combination of locomotive and coach, for the benefit of those who wanted to take photographs. 1954 April, A. R. G. Hawkins, “The Easingwold Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 271:
    • She can't read, so the voice recording was made for her benefit.
    • When this conversation was repeated in detail within the hearing of the young woman in question, and undoubtedly for his benefit, Mr. Trevor threw shame to the winds and scandalized the Misses Brewster then and there by proclaiming his father to have been a country storekeeper. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
    • Exposure to cutting-edge technologies is one of the benefits of the job.
  2. (countable, uncountable) A payment made in accordance with an insurance policy or a public assistance scheme.
  3. (countable, uncountable) An event, such as a theatrical performance, given to raise funds for some cause.
    • Gore Vidal […] will be sharing his wit and wisdom at the Arlington Street Church on Wednesday, April 5th at 7:00. The appearance is a benefit for the Boston/Boise Committee and the tickets are priced at $5. 1978 April 8, Eric Rogers, “People, Places and Flings”, in Gay Community News, page 13:
  4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) beneficence; liberality
    • The Birds, that liue i'th field / On the vvilde Benefit of nature, liue / Happier then vve; for they may chooſe their Mates, / And carroll their ſvveet pleaſures to the Spring: […] 1612–1613 (date written), John Webster, The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy. […], London: […] Nicholas Okes, for Iohn Waterson, […], published 1623, →OCLC, Act III, scene v, signature [H3], recto:
  5. (countable, uncountable) Intended audience (as for the benefit of).
    • The whole scene was staged for his benefit, and it completely fooled him.
    • 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.
    • So, if Obodzinski is correct in saying that Mrs. Piela actually signed a document in the coffee shop, in front of witnesses, she staged a scene, pretending that it was the alleged Mandate. The other explanation is that none of this ever took place, and the staging was only a fictitious creation for the benefit of the Court. 2020 April 16, Gary D.D. Morrison, J.S.C., “Succession de Kalimbet Piela c. Obodzinski, 2020 QCCS 1222”, in CanLII, retrieved 09 May 2021:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
benifit alternative, misspelling lexicographic
benefite alternative, obsolete lexicographic
benefits Number=Plur lexicographic

Antonyms

malefit (antonym(s) of “advantage, help”) · detriment (antonym(s) of “advantage, help”) · harm (antonym(s) of “advantage, help”) · obstacle (antonym(s) of “advantage, help”) · disadvantage (antonym(s) of “advantage, help”) · encumbrance (antonym(s) of “advantage, help”) · hindrance (antonym(s) of “advantage, help”) · nuisance (antonym(s) of “advantage, help”)

Deriveds

benefit cliff · benefitless · beneficial · benefiter · co-benefit

Relateds

lagniappe

Synonyms

subsidy (payment) · help (advantage, help) · advantage (advantage, help) · aid (advantage, help) · boon (advantage, help) · assistance (advantage, help) · foredeal (advantage, help) · percentage (advantage, help)

Translations (212)

hu java (advantage, help or aid) · fi avustus (payment, subsidy) · khb ᦎᦱᦡᦲ (advantage, help or aid) · ms kebaikan (advantage, help or aid) · mi pai (advantage, help or aid) · fi etu (advantage, help or aid) · ja 手当 (payment, subsidy) · ro beneficii (performance given to raise funds) · ceb gadgad (advantage, help or aid) · nah teinellili (advantage, help or aid) · ka სარგებელი (advantage, help or aid) · ky пайда (profit, use) · hu segély (payment, subsidy) · hi हित (profit, use) · sw manufaa (advantage, help or aid) · fi etu (profit, use) · ru бенефи́с (performance given to raise funds) · de Nutzen (advantage, help or aid) · eo avantaĝo (advantage, help or aid) · es beneficio (performance given to raise funds) · ckb سوود (advantage, help or aid) · ur فایِدَہ (profit, use) · bg изго́да (profit, use) · fi hyöty (advantage, help or aid) · fi etuus (payment, subsidy) · ja 給付金 (payment, subsidy) · hu előny (profit, use) · az fayda (profit, use) · jct мефе (advantage, help or aid) · fi lahjanäytäntö (performance given to raise funds) · hu pótlék (payment, subsidy) · uk допомо́га (payment, subsidy) · ja 公益 (advantage, help or aid) · hy նպաստ (payment, subsidy) · grc ὄφελος (advantage, help or aid) · it profitto (profit, use) · sl korist (advantage, help or aid) · ro avantaj (advantage, help or aid) · el επίδομα (payment, subsidy) · hu jótékonysági rendezvény (performance given to raise funds) · it beneficio (profit, use) · bn লাভ (profit, use) · zza fayde (profit, use) · ko 급부 (payment, subsidy) · el ωφέλεια (advantage, help or aid) · be кары́сьць (advantage, help or aid) · zza nahfat (advantage, help or aid) · bg до́ход (advantage, help or aid) · it sussidio (payment, subsidy) · de Leistung (payment, subsidy) · nl voordeel (advantage, help or aid) · nl subsidie (payment, subsidy) · bn ফায়দা (advantage, help or aid) · fi raha (payment, subsidy) · av пайда (profit, use) · khb ᦎᦱᦡᦲ (profit, use) · sv fördel (advantage, help or aid) · ota فائده (profit, use) · te లబ్ధి (advantage, help or aid) · ru посо́бие (payment, subsidy) · lo ຜົນປະໂຫຍດ (advantage, help or aid) · ar فَائِدَة (advantage, help or aid) · fr bénéfice (advantage, help or aid) · fi lahjanäytös (performance given to raise funds) · tr yarar (advantage, help or aid) · es ventaja (advantage, help or aid) · ru вы́года (profit, use) · bg социа́лна по́мощ (payment, subsidy) · es beneficio (advantage, help or aid) · es beneficio (profit, use) · ru бла́го (advantage, help or aid) · nb fordel (advantage, help or aid) · es bienfecho (desus.) (advantage, help or aid) · ota فائده (advantage, help or aid) · it aiuto (advantage, help or aid) · ceb dapot (advantage, help or aid) · da fordel (advantage, help or aid) · it beneficio (advantage, help or aid) · ang nytt (profit, use) · ca benefici (advantage, help or aid) · ru прок (advantage, help or aid) · fa-ira فایِدِه (profit, use) · sk výhoda (advantage, help or aid) · eo benefico (performance given to raise funds) · uk прибу́ток (advantage, help or aid) · ceb kapuslanan (advantage, help or aid) · nl uitkering (payment, subsidy) · nb ytelse (payment, subsidy) · bg по́лза (advantage, help or aid) · pl korzyść (profit, use) · hu támogatás (payment, subsidy) · ka ხეირი (advantage, help or aid) · alt байда (advantage, help or aid) · tg фойда (profit, use) · uk бенефі́с (performance given to raise funds) · hu haszon (profit, use) · cs výhoda (advantage, help or aid) · hu juttatás (payment, subsidy) · es baza (advantage, help or aid) · cmn 益處 /益处 (advantage, help or aid) · ko 수당 (payment, subsidy) · ga brabach (advantage, help or aid) · nl nut (advantage, help or aid) · be кары́сць (advantage, help or aid) · mi takuhe (payment, subsidy) · ru преиму́щество (advantage, help or aid) · hu ellátás (payment, subsidy) · el όφελος (advantage, help or aid) · eo utilo (advantage, help or aid) · sv bidrag (payment, subsidy) · hy օգուտ (advantage, help or aid) · ru при́быль (advantage, help or aid) · de Benefizkonzert (performance given to raise funds) · ms faedah (profit, use) · ia beneficio (advantage, help or aid) · pt beneficente (performance given to raise funds) · ota افاده (advantage, help or aid) · fr bénéfice (profit, use) · ceb benepisyo (advantage, help or aid) · nl benefietconcert (performance given to raise funds) · eo profito (advantage, help or aid) · da hjælp (advantage, help or aid) · sh subvèncija (payment, subsidy) · hi लाभ (advantage, help or aid) · ru вы́года (advantage, help or aid) · hi हित (advantage, help or aid) · bg печа́лба (profit, use) · ms faedah (advantage, help or aid) · fi tuki (payment, subsidy) · uk кори́сть (advantage, help or aid) · tr fayda (advantage, help or aid) · gd prothaid (advantage, help or aid) · pt benefício (advantage, help or aid) · mi penihana (payment, subsidy) · de Nutzen (profit, use) · ko 리익 (advantage, help or aid) · ml ആനുകൂല്യം (advantage, help or aid) · mi huanga (advantage, help or aid) · ar جَدْوَى (advantage, help or aid) · mi patanga (advantage, help or aid) · ja 恩恵 (advantage, help or aid) · bg изго́да (advantage, help or aid) · ru по́льза (advantage, help or aid) · fi korvaus (payment, subsidy) · fr avantage (advantage, help or aid) · bn লাভ (advantage, help or aid) · ang fremu (profit, use) · ar فَائِدَة (profit, use) · ru социа́льная по́мощь (payment, subsidy) · th ผลประโยชน์ (advantage, help or aid) · oc benefici (advantage, help or aid) · ca benefici (performance given to raise funds) · ee viɖe (advantage, help or aid) · ja 慈善興行 (performance given to raise funds) · da hjælp (payment, subsidy) · fi hyöty (profit, use) · es prestación (payment, subsidy) · got 𐌱𐍉𐍄𐌰 (advantage, help or aid) · nl ten voordele van (advantage, help or aid) · bg бенефи́с (performance given to raise funds) · ar مَنْفَعَة (advantage, help or aid) · cmn 得益 (advantage, help or aid) · fa-ira فایِدِه (advantage, help or aid) · ia avantage (advantage, help or aid) · ko 이익 (advantage, help or aid) · fr subvention (payment, subsidy) · sv understöd (payment, subsidy) · it pagamento (payment, subsidy) · ko 자선행사 (performance given to raise funds) · ru льго́та (advantage, help or aid) · kmr fayîde (profit, use) · nl benefiet (performance given to raise funds) · sh dȍbrobīt (advantage, help or aid) · ka სარგებლობა (advantage, help or aid) · la beneficium (advantage, help or aid) · tt файда (profit, use) · bg аванта́ж (advantage, help or aid) · th ประโยชน์ (advantage, help or aid) · sh nȃknada (payment, subsidy) · bn মুনাফা (profit, use) · fa-ira فائِدِه (profit, use) · eo subvencio (payment, subsidy) · uk прибу́ток (profit, use) · pt evento beneficente (performance given to raise funds) · hu haszon (advantage, help or aid) · ur فائِدَہ (advantage, help or aid) · pt pagamento (payment, subsidy) · gl beneficio (advantage, help or aid) · lo ປະໂຫຍດ (advantage, help or aid) · de Vorteil (advantage, help or aid) · yai фойда (profit, use) · hi लाभ (profit, use) · ru толк (advantage, help or aid) · ja 利益 (advantage, help or aid) · ceb kaayohan (advantage, help or aid) · tr avantaj (advantage, help or aid) · uz foyda (profit, use) · pl korzyść (advantage, help or aid) · tr fayda (profit, use) · te లబ్ధి (payment, subsidy) · mi moni oranga (payment, subsidy) · ar نَفْع (advantage, help or aid) · uk ко́ристь (advantage, help or aid) · de Wohltätigkeitsveranstaltung (performance given to raise funds) · pt subsídio (payment, subsidy) · ang fremu (advantage, help or aid) · pl świadczenie (payment, subsidy) · fi lahjaottelu (performance given to raise funds) · ro beneficiu (performance given to raise funds) · sh dobrotvorna akcija (performance given to raise funds) · de Benefizveranstaltung (performance given to raise funds) · pl beneficjum (profit, use)

benefit en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈbɛn.ɪˌfɪt/ (Canada, General-American)
  • /ˈbɛn.ɪ.fɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈbɛn.əˌfɪt/ (Canada, General-American)
  • /ˈben.ə.fɪt/ (Australia)
  • /ˈben.ə.fət/ (New-Zealand)
  • (US) audio
  • bĕn'əfĭt (Canada, General-American)
  • bĕn'ĭfĭt (Canada, General-American)

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.

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To be or to provide a benefit to.
    • […] I will repent of the good; wherewith I saide I would benefite them. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 18:10:
    • The spending in and around local stations is creating micro-economies that are benefiting Great Britain's high streets, independent businesses and economic growth, both locally and on a national level. 2025 October 1, Richard Evans, “The value of the railway effect”, in RAIL, number 1045, page 58:
  2. (intransitive) To receive a benefit (from); to be a beneficiary.
    • Instead, the grime of the steam years which still discoloured many of the best architectural features Betjeman loved has been cleared away, and several of the stations have benefited from major refurbishments which have greatly improved them. 2021 January 13, Christian Wolmar, “Read all about London's Cathedrals of Steam”, in RAIL, issue 922, page 63:
    • Diesel maintenance schedules are benefiting from work done on the magnificent Hilger & Watts electronic spectrograph for oil analysis, which detects minute quantities of metals in samples of used lubricating oil; [...]. 1960 June 14, “Talking of Trains: New B.R. research laboratory”, in Trains Illustrated, page 329:
    • Although some apeirophobics have benefitted from treatments like medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, others have found no way to mitigate the existential terror. 2016 September 1, Bobby Azarian, “Apeirophobia: The Fear of Eternity”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 18 Oct 2017:
    • Although Katy has admitted to being bi-curious in the past, the reason a lot of fans wanted clarity on her sexuality was to ensure she wasn't queer-baiting and benefiting from a culture she isn't actually part of. 2023 September 14, Grazia Contributor, “This Is Why Katy Perry’s Sexuality Can Be A Controversial Talking Point”, in Grazia:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
benefitting Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
benefitted Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
benefitted Tense=Past lexicographic
benefiting Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
benefited Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
benefited Tense=Past lexicographic
benefite alternative, obsolete lexicographic
benefits Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
benifit alternative, misspelling lexicographic

Antonyms

detriment · malefic

Deriveds

cost-benefit analysis · benefit association · widow’s benefit · defined benefit · child benefit · risk-benefit · non-pecuniary benefit · in benefit · benefit segmentation · benefitable · cobenefit · private benefit · cafeteria benefit · benefit of the doubt · equivalent annual benefit · nonwage benefit · disbenefit · death benefit · benefit in kind · elective benefit · child tax benefit · nonstatutory fringe benefit · injury benefit · unbenefiting · state benefit · electronic benefit transfer · bennies · benefit of clergy · core benefit · maternity benefit · marginal benefit · family benefit · benefit corporation · benefit of inventory · unbenefited · stranded benefit · supplementary benefit · benefits coordinator · benefit tourism · employee benefit · benefit-cost ratio · benefit principle · income-related benefit · means-tested benefit · benefit club · benefit dollar · variable death benefit · fringe benefit · survivor benefit · benefit of doubt · benefit society · cost benefit analysis · unemployment benefit · friend with benefits · benefit-cost analysis · sickness benefit

Relateds

beneficence · benefactor · beneficiary · beneficent

Synonyms

batten · behoove · help

Translations (66)

cs prospět (to receive a benefit) · hu használ (to be or provide a benefit to) · cs prospět (to be or provide a benefit to) · grc ὠφελέομαι (to receive a benefit) · fi hyötyä (to receive a benefit) · ja 役立つ (to be or provide a benefit to) · sv dra fördel av (to receive a benefit) · nn gagna (to be or provide a benefit to) · la beneficio (to be or provide a benefit to) · hu profitál (to receive a benefit) · bg извлека́ по́лза (to receive a benefit) · grc ὠφελέω (to be or provide a benefit to) · el ευεργετούμαι (to receive a benefit) · grc ὀνίνημι (to be or provide a benefit to) · de von Vorteil sein (to be or provide a benefit to) · ka სარგებლობა (to receive a benefit) · fi olla hyödyksi (to be or provide a benefit to) · bg извли́чам по́лза (to receive a benefit) · ka გამორჩენა (to receive a benefit) · bg от по́лза съм (to be or provide a benefit to) · got 𐌱𐍉𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to be or provide a benefit to) · it servirsi (to receive a benefit) · el ωφελώ (to be or provide a benefit to) · it usufruire (to receive a benefit) · fr profiter (to receive a benefit) · sv gagna (to be or provide a benefit to) · zdj uhundra faiɗa (to receive a benefit) · it aiutare (to be or provide a benefit to) · it beneficiare (to be or provide a benefit to) · sv gynnas (to receive a benefit) · pt beneficiar-se de (to receive a benefit) · pt beneficiar (to be or provide a benefit to) · es beneficiar (to be or provide a benefit to) · bg от по́лза ми е (to receive a benefit) · la prōsum (to be or provide a benefit to) · ko 이롭다 (to be or provide a benefit to) · it sfruttare (to receive a benefit) · tr faydalanmak (to receive a benefit) · fi olla hyödyllinen (to be or provide a benefit to) · ca beneficiar (to be or provide a benefit to) · el ευεργετώ (to be or provide a benefit to) · it godere (to receive a benefit) · it approfittare (to receive a benefit) · it beneficiare (to receive a benefit) · es beneficiarse [with de] (to receive a benefit) · bg и́мам по́лза (to receive a benefit) · ota آصیلانمق (to receive a benefit) · ota فائدهلنمك (to receive a benefit) · sv gynna (to be or provide a benefit to) · eo profiti (to receive a benefit) · hu hasznát látja (to receive a benefit) · fi hyödyttää (to be or provide a benefit to) · ja 得する (to receive a benefit) · cmn 利於 /利于 (to be or provide a benefit to) · grc ἀγαθοποιέω (to be or provide a benefit to) · ko 견리하다 (to receive a benefit) · de profitieren (to receive a benefit) · el ωφελούμαι (to receive a benefit) · ca beneficiar (to receive a benefit) · sv gagnas (to receive a benefit) · hu javára/hasznára/előnyére van/válik (to be or provide a benefit to) · de nutzen (to be or provide a benefit to) · fr profiter à (to be or provide a benefit to) · eo utili (to receive a benefit) · eo profiti (to be or provide a benefit to) · la iuvō (to be or provide a benefit to)