benefit
10 synonyms and 9 antonyms for benefit, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An advantage, gain, or help that comes from something.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use benefit
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French bienfait, "good deed," from bien ("well") and faire ("to do"), modeled on Latin benefactum — the same root as "benefactor."
Full origin of benefit →Frequently asked questions
What does “benefit” mean?
The word “benefit” means an advantage, gain, or help that comes from something. In plain terms, something good you gain, or the act of gaining something good from a situation.
How do you pronounce “benefit”?
“Benefit” is pronounced BEHN-ih-fiht (/ˈbɛn.ə.fɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “benefit” in a sentence?
Here is “benefit” used in a sentence: “One benefit of working from home is skipping the commute.”
What is another word for “benefit”?
Words with a similar meaning to “benefit” include help, batten and behoove.
What is the opposite of “benefit”?
The opposite of “benefit” — its antonyms — are harm, disadvantage, encumbrance, hindrance and malefit.
What part of speech is “benefit”?
Depending on how it is used, “benefit” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “benefit” come from?
The word “benefit” comes from Latin. From Old French bienfait, "good deed," from bien ("well") and faire ("to do"), modeled on Latin benefactum — the same root as "benefactor.".
Is “benefit” a common word?
“Benefit” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a benefit and an advantage?
The words overlap, but a benefit is a helpful gain that something provides — the good it does you, like the health benefits of exercise. An advantage is a favourable position, often measured against others, that puts you ahead. Every advantage helps you, but a benefit need not involve beating anyone.
What is the opposite of a benefit?
The main opposites are drawback, disadvantage, downside, detriment, and harm. Where a benefit is a positive gain or help, these describe the negative side — what something costs you rather than what it gives. Weighing benefits against drawbacks is exactly how people judge whether a choice is worthwhile.
What are employee benefits?
Employee benefits are the extras a job provides on top of wages — things like health insurance, a pension, paid holiday, sick leave, or perks such as gym membership. Because they add real value beyond salary, they are often called a benefits package and weigh heavily when choosing a job.
What is an example of a benefit?
For instance, regular exercise brings the benefit of better health, and reading widely has the benefit of a larger vocabulary. A new road might benefit a town by cutting journey times. In each case the benefit is the concrete advantage, gain, or help that results from something.