beneficial

1 of 2

adjective

ben·​e·​fi·​cial ˌbe-nə-ˈfi-shəl How to pronounce beneficial (audio)
Synonyms of beneficial
1
: producing good results or helpful effects : conferring benefits (see benefit entry 1 sense 1)
the beneficial effects of regular exercise
insects that are beneficial to your garden
2
: receiving or entitling one to receive advantage, use, or benefit
a beneficial owner of securities
a beneficial interest in an estate
beneficially
ˌbe-nə-ˈfi-sh(ə-)lē How to pronounce beneficial (audio)
adverb
beneficialness noun

beneficialness

2 of 2

noun

ben·​e·​fi·​cial·​ness
¦be-nə-¦fi-shəl-nəs
plural -es
: the quality or state of being beneficial

Synonyms of beneficial

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of beneficial in a Sentence

Adjective He hopes the new drug will prove beneficial to many people. Regular exercise has many beneficial health effects. They have a relationship that is beneficial to both of them. Some insects are harmful but others are beneficial.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
According to Goble the potential for beneficial snowfall is generally stronger in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 But even potentially beneficial debt, or debt taken on for necessary expenses, can become a financial burden. — Sharon Epperson, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026 Relocate Leaf Litter and Wood Piles Leaf litter, wood piles, and other yard debris offer shelter not only to pests but also to beneficial insects and wildlife. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026 Breaking exercise into two or three shorter walks can be just as beneficial as one longer outing as the weather warms up. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beneficial

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin beneficium favor, benefit — see benefice

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beneficial was in the 15th century

Rhymes for beneficial

See All Rhymes for beneficial

Browse Nearby Words

beneficia
beneficial
beneficial improvement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beneficial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beneficial. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

beneficial

adjective
ben·​e·​fi·​cial ˌben-ə-ˈfish-əl How to pronounce beneficial (audio)
: producing results that are good for health and happiness
beneficially
-ˈfish-ə-lē How to pronounce beneficial (audio)
adverb
beneficialness noun

Legal Definition

beneficial

adjective
ben·​e·​fi·​cial ˌbe-nə-ˈfi-shəl How to pronounce beneficial (audio)
1
: providing benefits or advantages
2
: receiving or entitling one to receive an advantage, benefit, or use
a beneficial shareholder
a beneficial estate
beneficially
-shə-lē How to pronounce beneficial (audio)
adverb
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