benevolent
Americanadjective
-
characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings.
a benevolent attitude; her benevolent smile.
-
desiring to help others; charitable.
gifts from several benevolent alumni.
- Synonyms:
- altruistic, philanthropic, benign, liberal, generous, humane, kind, good
-
intended for benefits rather than profit.
a benevolent institution.
adjective
-
intending or showing goodwill; kindly; friendly
a benevolent smile
a benevolent old man
-
doing good or giving aid to others, rather than making profit; charitable
a benevolent organization
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of benevolent
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin benevolent-, stem of benevolēns “kindhearted, well-wishing,” from bene- bene- + volēns “willing, wishing” (present participle of velle “to want, wish”); cf. voluntary
Explanation
Choose the adjective benevolent for someone who does good deeds or shows goodwill. If your teacher collects homework with a benevolent smile, she's hoping that you've done a good job. Benevolent comes from the Latin bene, "well," and volent, from a verb meaning "to wish." A benevolent society is a charity group organized to serve a community through programs, sponsorships, and donations. The expression "benevolent dictatorship" may seem like an oxymoron, but it is a political term for an authoritative government that (supposedly) works for the good of the people under its rule.
Vocabulary lists containing benevolent
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Animal Farm
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Simakis calls the group’s vision for the space “unrelenting joy mixed with benevolent chaos,” as well as “a beautiful folk art museum that’s also a space rave.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
"It is the only alliance that, until now, had a major player behaving like a benevolent hegemon, one that did not impose its actions on others by force," he told AFP.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
And the federal government’s entry into migration sounds benevolent, but only one state had benevolent migration laws, and that was New York.
From Slate • Mar. 16, 2026
By 1908, Wilhelm’s attitude toward the U.S. was more benevolent, and he offered President Theodore Roosevelt an elite corps of Prussian soldiers to be posted in California, supposedly to fend off a Japanese invasion.
From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026
They hadn’t been invited to the wedding—and wouldn’t have come if they had been—but the way they patted his back and rubbed his shoulders, they seemed like a chortling chaw of benevolent uncles.
From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
