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

However a handful of smaller universities, for whom the caps are beneficial, welcomed the news.

From BBC

For example, it may be possible to chelate magnesium ions from bacterial environments, which should selectively inhibit resistant strains without impacting the wild type bacteria that may be beneficial to our health.

From Science Daily

The caution was "understandable when spas were first open" but research has shown massage for patients can be "highly beneficial to their physical, psychological, and emotional health and wellbeing", they added.

From BBC

Unsurprisingly, more plants are beneficial to many animal species.

From Science Daily

"Green spaces are beneficial all day. They provide shade provisions in the day and relief of humid heat at night," he said.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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