beneficiary

American  

[ben-uh-fish-ee-er-ee, -fish-uh-ree] / ˌbɛn əˈfɪʃ iˌɛr i, -ˈfɪʃ ə ri /

noun

• beneficiaries
  plural

1. a person or group that receives benefits, profits, or advantages.

2. a person designated as the recipient of funds or other property under a will, trust, insurance policy, etc.

3. Ecclesiastical. the holder of a benefice.

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beneficiary British  

/ ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃərɪ /

noun

1. a person who gains or benefits in some way from something

2. law a person entitled to receive funds or other property under a trust, will, or insurance policy

3. the holder of an ecclesiastical or other benefice

4. a person who receives government assistance

   social security beneficiary

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adjective

1. of or relating to a benefice or the holder of a benefice

beneficiary Cultural  

1. The recipient of funds, property, or other benefits from an insurance policy, will, trust, or other settlement.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prebeneficiary
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• beneficiaries
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of beneficiary

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin beneficiārius, from benefici(um) benefice + -ārius -ary

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Explanation

A beneficiary is simply the recipient of money or other benefits. So when your big sister finally moves away to college and you get to move into her bigger bedroom? You become a lucky beneficiary. In other words — if you benefit from something, you are a beneficiary. This word pops up most commonly when people are creating their wills and trusts — you have to choose beneficiaries as the people who will get what you have when you die. But it isn't always so morbid. You can be the beneficiary of someone's kindness, the beneficiary of a good education, or even the beneficiary of your own hard work.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

beneficiary beneficiaries

Verstappen was the beneficiary of the Ferrari battle in Mexico, and his victory there was his third in four races.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

That is an automatic 22% reduction for every beneficiary, including those who live entirely on Social Security.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

“Executor continues to keep each beneficiary beholden to him with an iron grip over when and if monies are distributed to them,” the petition added.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

South Africa is the largest beneficiary of AGOA, which grants eligible sub-Saharan African countries preferential access to the US market.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

But it was also gaining steam as a movement around the country, and for my last three years at Bryn Mawr I was a beneficiary.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Other analysts said the proposal could make costs to the average individual lower by expanding the pool of healthier — and therefore less costly — beneficiaries.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2026

He thinks Right to Buy gave its beneficiaries an important asset.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Their job is to ensure that beneficiaries have “timely access to healthcare and social services,” the state says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

Allegedly, no such petition has been filed: “Fifteen years later, Michael’s beneficiaries are still waiting.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

But in fact they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

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Related Words

• heir
• recipient

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