beneficial

[ ben-uh-fish-uhl ]

adjective

1. conferring benefit; advantageous; helpful:

   the beneficial effect of sunshine.

   Synonyms: profitable, favorable, useful, serviceable, wholesome, salutary

   Antonyms: harmful

2. Law.
   1. helpful in the meeting of needs:

      a beneficial association.

   2. involving the personal enjoyment of proceeds:

      a beneficial owner.

beneficial

/ ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl /

adjective

1. sometimes foll by to causing a good result; advantageous
2. law entitling a person to receive the profits or proceeds of property

   a beneficial interest in land

Derived Forms

• ˌbeneˈficially, adverb

Other Words From

• bene·ficial·ly adverb
• bene·ficial·ness noun
• nonben·e·ficial adjective
• nonben·e·ficial·ly adverb
• nonben·e·ficial·ness noun
• quasi-bene·ficial adjective
• quasi-bene·ficial·ly adverb
• unben·e·ficial adjective
• unben·e·ficial·ly adverb
• unben·e·ficial·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of beneficial¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Late Latin beneficiālis, equivalent to Latin benefici(um) “kindness” ( benefice ( def ) ) + -ālis -al ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of beneficial¹

C15: from Late Latin beneficiālis , from Latin beneficium kindness

Example Sentences

That is, if the Kremlin has calculated that Donald Trump will help end the war on terms beneficial to Russia.

From BBC

These findings not only provide a window into the distant past but also illustrate how genetic traits beneficial for survival and well-being can vanish over time.

From Science Daily

“We’re thinking it’s going to be more of a beneficial rain,” said Bryan Lewis, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard.

From Los Angeles Times

“He’d be worthless” but for government subsidies, Trump sniped in 2022, before the two formed their mutually beneficial bond only months ago.

From Los Angeles Times

Delivering therapies that directly target the bug or its toxins could potentially replace the need for antibiotics that also harm beneficial gut microbes.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• benign
• constructive
• favorable
• good
• helpful
• profitable
• useful
• valuable