an advantage or profit gained from something, a payment made by the government or an employer to someone who is ill, unemployed, or retired

to one's benefit, to reap the benefits, the benefits outweigh the costs

benefit of the doubt, benefit concert, benefit package

Formal and Informal Expressions of benefit

In different contexts, you can replace 'benefit' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'advantage, profit' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'perk, upside' is a commonplace synonym.

benefit: Explore its Definition & Usage

benefit Definition

1an advantage or profit gained from something
2a payment made by the government or an employer to someone who is ill, unemployed, or retired

Using benefit: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "benefit" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The new tax law will be of great benefit to low-income families.
Example
She is receiving unemployment benefits.
Example
The company offers a comprehensive benefits package to its employees.
Example
Regular exercise has many health benefits.

benefit Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for benefit

Antonyms for benefit

Idioms Using benefit

to one's benefit
in a way that is advantageous or helpful to someone
Example
Learning a foreign language can be to one's benefit when traveling abroad.
to reap the benefits
to enjoy the advantages or rewards of something that has been done or achieved
Example
After years of hard work, she finally began to reap the benefits of her success.
the benefits outweigh the costs
the advantages of something are greater than the disadvantages or expenses
Example
Although the initial investment was high, the benefits of the new technology outweighed the costs in the long run.

Phrases with benefit

benefit of the doubt
a judgment in favor of someone when the evidence is uncertain
Example
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he didn't mean to offend me.
benefit concert
a musical event held to raise money for a charity or cause
Example
The benefit concert raised over $100,000 for cancer research.
benefit package
a set of benefits offered by an employer to their employees in addition to their salary or wages
Example
The company's benefit package includes health insurance, retirement savings, and paid time off.

Origins of benefit

from Latin 'bene' meaning 'well' and 'facere' meaning 'to do'

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Summary: benefit in Brief

The term 'benefit' [ˈbɛnɪfɪt] refers to an advantage or profit gained from something, such as the new tax law being of great benefit to low-income families. It also denotes a payment made by the government or an employer to someone who is ill, unemployed, or retired, like receiving unemployment benefits. Phrases like 'benefit of the doubt' and 'benefit concert' extend the term's usage, while idioms like 'to reap the benefits' and 'the benefits outweigh the costs' highlight the advantages of something.