benefit

Meanings

Noun

• 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 performance, given to raise funds for some cause.
• beneficence; liberality
• Intended audience (as for the benefit of).

Verb

• To be or to provide a benefit to.
• To receive a benefit (from); to be a beneficiary.

Related

Similar words

• foredeal, advantage, aid, assistance, boon, help
• subsidy
• help, batten, behoove

Opposite words

• harm, disadvantage, encumbrance, hindrance, malefit, nuisance, obstacle, detriment
• malefic
• detriment

Origin

• From Late Middle English benefytt, benefett, alteration (due to Latin bene-) of benfet, bienfet, bienfait, from Anglo-Norman benfet, Middle French bienfait, from Old French bienfet, bienfait, from past participle of bienfaire, from bien + faire, modelled after Latin benefactum. More at benefactor.