noun
- something that is advantageous or good; an advantage: He explained the benefits of public ownership of the postal system.
- a payment or gift, as one made to help someone or given by an employer, an insurance company, or a public agency: The company offers its employees a pension plan, free health insurance, and other benefits.
- a theatrical performance or other public entertainment to raise money for a charitable organization or cause.
- Archaic. an act of kindness; good deed; benefaction.
verb (used with object), ben·e·fit·ed or ben·e·fit·ted, ben·e·fit·ing or ben·e·fit·ting.
- to do good to; be of service to: a health program to benefit everyone.
verb (used without object), ben·e·fit·ed or ben·e·fit·ted, ben·e·fit·ing or ben·e·fit·ting.
- to derive benefit or advantage; profit; make improvement: He has never benefited from all that experience.
- for (someone’s) benefit, so as to produce a desired effect in another’s mind: He wasn’t really angry; that was just an act for his girlfriend’s benefit.
noun
- something that improves or promotes
- advantage or sakethis is for your benefit
- British
- an allowance paid by the government as for sickness, unemployment, etc, to which a person is entitled under social security or the national insurance scheme
- any similar allowance in various other countries
- (sometimes plural) a payment or series of payments made by an institution, such as an insurance company or trade union, to a person who is ill, unemployed, etc
- a theatrical performance, sports event, etc, to raise money for a charity
verb -fits, -fiting or -fited or esp US -fits, -fitting or -fitted
- to do or receive good; profit
late 14c., “good or noble deed,” also “advantage, profit,” from Anglo-French benfet “well-done,” from Latin benefactum “good deed,” from bene facere (see benefactor). Meaning “performance or entertainment to raise money for some charitable cause” is from 1680s.
late 15c., from benefit (n.). Related: Benefited; benefiting.
see give the benefit.