benefit
BEHN-ih-fiht
Benefit (noun) means an advantage, gain, or help that comes from something. Example: “A key benefit of regular walking is that it helps you sleep better.”
noun
1
An advantage, gain, or help that comes from something.
"A key benefit of regular walking is that it helps you sleep better."
"One benefit of working from home is skipping the commute."
"The medicine has few side effects and clear benefits."
2
A payment provided under an insurance policy or government support scheme.
"She receives a monthly benefit because she cannot work after her accident."
"Sickness benefit is paid to employees who are off work for a long time."
"He claims unemployment benefit while job hunting."
verb
1
To gain an advantage; to be helped by something.
"Local shops will benefit from the new car park opening nearby."
"Students benefit from smaller class sizes."
"Everyone benefited from the extra day off."
How to use benefit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething good you gain, or the act of gaining something good from a situation.
UK vs US
In British English, "benefits" commonly refers to state welfare payments ("claiming benefits"); American English tends to say "welfare" or name the specific program instead.
Common pairings
give someone the benefit of the doubt
health benefits
claim benefits
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Word forms
- Plural
- benefits
- Third person singular
- benefits
- Past tense
- benefited, benefitted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A key _____ of regular walking is that it helps you sleep better.
Etymology
From Old French bienfait, "good deed," from bien ("well") and faire ("to do"), modeled on Latin benefactum — the same root as "benefactor."
Synonyms
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Related words
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.
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