beneficiary
Beneficiary (noun) means a person who receives an advantage or gain from something. Example: “Small businesses were the main beneficiaries of the new tax break.”
How to Use Beneficiary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe person who ends up receiving the money, property, or advantage — for example, from a will or insurance policy.
Word Forms
beneficiaries plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She named her son as the sole _____ of her life insurance policy.
Etymology
From Latin beneficiarius, "one granted a favor or privilege," from beneficium ("benefit") — making it a distant cousin of "benefactor," even though the two words end up meaning close to opposites in everyday use.
Synonyms
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Related Words
Rhymes for beneficiary
See all rhymes for beneficiary →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “beneficiary” mean?
The word “beneficiary” means a person who receives an advantage or gain from something. In plain terms, the person who ends up receiving the money, property, or advantage — for example, from a will or insurance policy.
How do you pronounce “beneficiary”?
“Beneficiary” is pronounced behn-ih-FIHSH-uhr-ee (/ˌbɛn.ɪˈfɪʃ.ɚ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “beneficiary” in a sentence?
Here is “beneficiary” used in a sentence: “She named her son as the sole beneficiary of her life insurance policy.”
What is the opposite of “beneficiary”?
The opposite of “beneficiary” — its antonyms — is maleficiary.
What part of speech is “beneficiary”?
“Beneficiary” is a noun.
Where does the word “beneficiary” come from?
The word “beneficiary” comes from Latin. From Latin beneficiarius, "one granted a favor or privilege," from beneficium ("benefit") — making it a distant cousin of "benefactor," even though the two words end up meaning close to opposites in everyday use.
Is “beneficiary” a common word?
“Beneficiary” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “beneficiary” have?
“Beneficiary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who receives an advantage or gain from something.