ben·e·fit
(bĕńə-fĭt)
[Middle English, from Old French bienfait, good deed, from Latin benefactum, from benefacere, to do a service; see benefaction.]
noun
- Something that promotes or enhances well-being; an advantage: The field trip was of great benefit to the students.
- Help; aid.
- A payment made or an entitlement available in accordance with a wage agreement, an insurance policy, or a public assistance program.
- A public entertainment, performance, or social event held to raise funds for a person or cause.
- Archaic A kindly deed.
verb: -fit·ed, also -fit·ted, -fit·ing, -fit·ting, -fits, -fits
transitive verb
- To be helpful or useful to.
intransitive verb
- To derive benefit: You will benefit from her good example.
idioms
- benefit of the doubt
- A favorable judgment granted in the absence of full evidence.
synonyms:
benefit, capitalize, profit These verbs mean to derive advantage from something: benefited from the stock split; capitalized on her adversary's blunder; profiting from experience.
