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

You’ll be surprised by how many responses you get and how beneficial the precursory information is.

From Search Engine Watch

“It was really beneficial because we got so many different questions and comments,” Melanie said, “and it meant that we really had to know what we were doing and really refine our strategy.”

From Fortune

“There’s not a lot of water that would be a significant contribution to the city of San Diego’s needs, but there’s a local source … that might be beneficial to keeping critical infrastructure operational,” he said.

From Voice of San Diego

While some products felt like inventions searching for a purpose, others had unique features that proved beneficial.

From Outside Online

These mutually beneficial business relationships can save you money, which is gold for the businessperson on a budget.

From Essence.com

“We can try to improve things that are beneficial to Turkers,” Milland added.

From The Daily Beast

So the idea that inclusion of gay characters in media is beneficial is well established.

From The Daily Beast

The review also notes that sucralose could potentially harm the beneficial bacteria in our gut.

From The Daily Beast

Diversification was as beneficial in financial investments as it was in growing crops and raising livestock.

From The Daily Beast

Why do you think psychedelics are so beneficial in helping Vets with PTD?

From The Daily Beast

His horticultural writings were exceedingly beneficial, as well to the gardeners as farmers.

From Project Gutenberg

Trades-unions have a double nature, they are created for both beneficial and business purposes.

From Project Gutenberg

Originally their beneficial character was the more important feature.

From Project Gutenberg

The beneficial results of those acts are too large to be here entered into in detail.

From Project Gutenberg

Asbestos rope and cloth are now largely manufactured and used for this purpose in the United States with very beneficial results.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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