beneficial

[ ben-uh-fish-uhl ]
/ ˌbɛn əˈfɪʃ əl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR beneficial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

conferring benefit; advantageous; helpful: the beneficial effect of sunshine.
Law.
  1. helpful in the meeting of needs: a beneficial association.
  2. involving the personal enjoyment of proceeds: a beneficial owner.

Origin of beneficial

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin beneficiālis, equivalent to Latin benefici(um) kindness (see benefice) + -ālis -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM beneficial

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH beneficial

beneficent beneficial benevolent

Words nearby beneficial

benefactrix, benefic, benefice, beneficence, beneficent, beneficial, beneficiary, beneficiate, benefit, benefit in kind, benefit of clergy

Words related to beneficial

profitable, good, useful, helpful, valuable, constructive, benign, favorable, gainful, healthful, propitious, salubrious, salutary, serviceable, toward, wholesome, worthy, favoring

Example sentences from the Web for beneficial

British Dictionary definitions for beneficial

beneficial
/ (ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl) /

adjective

(sometimes foll by to) causing a good result; advantageous
law entitling a person to receive the profits or proceeds of property a beneficial interest in land

Derived forms of beneficial

beneficially, adverb

Word Origin for beneficial

C15: from Late Latin beneficiālis, from Latin beneficium kindness