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

Before buying a third beneficiary of the build-out, I would ask what it contributes if the spending cycle weakens.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

It also became the ultimate beneficiary of the Graham dinner meeting, picking up the contract Graham allegedly agreed to facilitate that night.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

Disclaimers have many key details, especially regarding beneficiary documents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Last year, Microsoft was the third-largest beneficiary of the program, with 6,258 H-1B visas, according to data from U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

The University of California was a logical beneficiary of his own patent rights, since Cottrell’s work had been done in its laboratories.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

The 40 million residents of the Colorado River basin and nonresident beneficiaries of its water supply, including most Californians, will have to do more with less as global warming causes more and deeper droughts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

With 11 league scorers already - while also being the beneficiaries of three own goals - Hurzeler's men are sharing the load impressively.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Eligible beneficiaries can choose from a traditional Medicare plan run by the federal government, privately-run Medicare Advantage plans, and privately-run Medicare Part D drug plans.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026

Using a tag-along provision secured during the sale to Walter, the five Buss siblings hope to maximize value for all six beneficiaries, including Jeanie, the new filing reports.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

In general, the Virginians were the chief beneficiaries of all the highly stylized histories, though, as Adams observed, “not a lad upon the Highlands is more clannish than every Virginian I have ever known.”

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

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Related Words

• heir
• recipient

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