benefit
Use Benefit in a sentence
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ə noun
1.
something that is advantageous or good; an advantage: He explained the benefits of public ownership of the postal system.
2.
a payment or gift, as one made to help someone or given by a benefit society, insurance company, or public agency: The company offers its employees a pension plan, free health insurance, and other benefits.
3.
a theatrical performance or other public entertainment to raise money for a charitable organization or cause.
4.
Archaic. an act of kindness; good deed; benefaction.
verb (used with object)
5.
to do good to; be of service to: a health program to benefit everyone.
00:10
Benefit
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
verb (used without object)
Idioms 6.
to derive benefit or advantage; profit; make improvement: He has never benefited from all that experience.
7.
for someone's benefit, so as to produce a desired effect in another's mind: He wasn't really angry; that was just an act for his girlfriend's benefit.
Origin:
1350–1400; late Middle English benefytt, benefett (noun), alteration (with Latinized first syllable) of Middle English b(i)enfet, benefait < Anglo-French benfet, Middle French bienfait < Latin benefactum good deed; see bene-, fact
1350–1400; late Middle English benefytt, benefett (noun), alteration (with Latinized first syllable) of Middle English b(i)enfet, benefait < Anglo-French benfet, Middle French bienfait < Latin benefactum good deed; see bene-, fact
Related forms
ben·e·fit·er, ben·e·fit·ter, noun
pre·ben·e·fit, verb, pre·ben·e·fit·ed or pre·ben·e·fit·ted, pre·ben·e·fit·ing or pre·ben·e·fit·ting.
self-ben·e·fit, noun
self-ben·e·fit·ing, self-ben·e·fit·ting, adjective
su·per·ben·e·fit, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To benefit
Collins
World English Dictionary
benefit (ˈbɛnɪfɪt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | something that improves or promotes |
| 2. | advantage or sake: this is for your benefit |
| 3. | (Brit) |
| a. an allowance paid by the government as for sickness, unemployment, etc, to which a person is entitled under social security or the national insurance scheme | |
| b. any similar allowance in various other countries | |
| 4. | (sometimes plural) a payment or series of payments made by an institution, such as an insurance company or trade union, to a person who is ill, unemployed, etc |
| 5. | a theatrical performance, sports event, etc, to raise money for a charity |
| —vb , -fits, -fiting, -fited, -fits, -fitting, -fitted | |
| 6. | to do or receive good; profit |
| [C14: from Anglo-French benfet, from Latin benefactum, from bene facere to do well] | |
| Earnings Related Supplement or Benefit | |
| —n | |
| ERS (formerly, in the British National Insurance scheme) a payment based on earnings in the previous tax year, payable (in addition to unemployment or sickness benefit) for about six months to a sick or unemployed person | |
| Benefit or Benefit | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
benefit
late 14c., "good or noble deed," also "advantage, profit," from Anglo-Fr. benfet "well-done," from L. benefactum "good deed" (see benefactor). Meaning "performance or entertainment to raise money for some charitable cause" is from 1680s. The verb is attested from 1540s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
The money was not paid to them directly, but was expended judiciously and for their benefit.
They are for the benefit of the players themselves-or, to be more precise, for the benefit of the players' gray matter.
He sold great part of his estate for the benefit of the poor, when he renounced the world.
Research shows the effect wanes in a few years without conferring any lasting benefit.
Idioms & Phrases
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