beneficiary

American  

[ben-uh-fish-ee-er-ee, -fish-uh-ree] / ˌbɛn əˈfɪʃ iˌɛr i, -ˈfɪʃ ə ri /

noun

plural

beneficiaries

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

• prebeneficiary noun

Etymology

Origin of beneficiary

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin beneficiārius, from benefici(um) benefice + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

I’m the beneficiary of birthright citizenship three times over.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

The asset then passes to another heir typically designated by documents such as a beneficiary form or a will, or by law.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

“Some individuals who do not want to re-title bank or brokerage assets into the name of their revocable trusts will simply name the trust as the beneficiary of those accounts on death,” he says.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Thill: One beneficiary in software is going to be vertical applications.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

In the late 1960s nonwhite Americans clamored for access to higher education, and I became a principal beneficiary of the academy’s response, its programs of affirmative action.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

Related Words

• heir
• recipient