beneficiary
2 synonyms and 1 antonym for beneficiary, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person who receives an advantage or gain from something.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
donee
benefactive role
Antonyms
How to use beneficiary
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sole beneficiary
named beneficiary
beneficiary of a will
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.
Full origin of 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.
