benefit

[ben-uh-fit] /ˈbɛn ə fɪt/
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 an employer, an insurance company, or a 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), benefited or benefitted, benefiting or benefitting.
5.
to do good to; be of service to:
a health program to benefit everyone.
verb (used without object), benefited or benefitted, benefiting or benefitting.
6.
to derive benefit or advantage; profit; make improvement:
He has never benefited from all that experience.
Idioms
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
Related forms
benefiter, benefitter, noun
prebenefit, verb, prebenefited or prebenefitted, prebenefiting or prebenefitting.
self-benefit, noun
self-benefiting, self-benefitting, adjective
superbenefit, noun
unbenefited, unbenefitted, adjective
unbenefiting, unbenefitting, adjective
Synonyms
1. favor, service. See advantage.
Examples from the web for benefit
  • The money was not paid to them directly, but was expended judiciously and for their benefit.
  • Recycling can benefit the atmosphere as well as the Earth.
  • The most important lesson I ever learned was that making good connections with people can benefit your work.
  • Both good readers and striving readers can benefit by using these strategies.
  • Few locals benefit from tourism.
  • At first I was angry with the book's editor, since so much of it could have been cut to the book's benefit.
  • Most soups benefit from being made a day before they're eaten.
  • Non-native trees benefit from a monthly deep soaking.
  • Ground covers that must compete with trees or shrubs often benefit from added fertilizer as well.
  • Hybrid tea roses benefit from heavy pruning in winter.
British Dictionary definitions for benefit

benefit

/ˈbɛnɪfɪt/
noun
1.
something that improves or promotes
2.
advantage or sake: this is for your benefit
3.
(Brit)
  1. 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
  2. any similar allowance in various other countries
4.
(sometimes pl) 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
verb -fits, -fiting, -fited especially (US) -fits, -fitting, -fitted
6.
to do or receive good; profit
Word Origin
C14: from Anglo-French benfet, from Latin benefactum, from bene facere to do well

Earnings Related Supplement

noun
1.
(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 ERS
Word Origin and History for benefit
n.

late 14c., "good or noble deed," also "advantage, profit," from Anglo-French benfet "well-done," from Latin benefactum "good deed," from bene facere (see benefactor). Meaning "performance or entertainment to raise money for some charitable cause" is from 1680s.

v.

late 15c., from benefit (n.). Related: Benefited; benefiting.

Idioms and Phrases with benefit

benefit

see: give the benefit