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

But slow-motion strength training, in particular, is beneficial for older exercisers, people healing injuries or those who are new to or returning to exercise because the slow cadence and focus on form — always with one-on-one supervision — reduces the chance of injury.

From Los Angeles Times

"In terms of the full uni experience, what I'm seeing is massively beneficial for him," he says.

From BBC

“There could be certain areas where he would be beneficial, but to be very honest, I don't trust him, because he shoots from the hip,” Gostin said.

From Salon

Perhaps it’s beneficial for thousands of employees who count on you to maintain positive relations with the emerging regulatory regime.

From Slate

Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which may ultimately channel $1 trillion of spending into green energy, has been hugely beneficial to Republican districts.

From BBC

Related Words

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