benefit

benefit — noun

1. a good thing that you gain from a situation, action, or product — for example, t

1.nounB1
Definition

a good thing that you gain from a situation, action, or product — for example, the way regular exercise improves your sleep, or the way a new road shortens your drive home.

Example

Amara finally noticed the benefits of yoga: deeper sleep and a calmer mind.

noun + of + noun phrase showing what causes the benefit

One big benefit of working from home is skipping the long bus ride.

benefit of + gerund

Common collocations
  • health benefits
  • real benefits
  • long-term benefits
  • see the benefit
  • reap the benefits
Synonyms
  • advantage

    very close; 'advantage' often implies a comparison with others, while 'benefit' focuses on the good effect itself

  • perk

    informal; usually a small extra bonus, often work-related

  • upside

    informal; the positive side of a mixed situation

Antonyms
  • drawback

    the bad side of something otherwise useful

  • disadvantage

    more neutral and formal than 'drawback'

Grammar Patterns

benefit of doing something

benefit of something

Usage Note

Often plural ('the benefits of X'). Frequently followed by 'of' + noun or '-ing'. When the subject is the source of help, use 'bring/offer/provide benefits to someone' rather than 'give'.

Common Mistakes

Sleep has many benefits for to your skin.
Sleep has many benefits for your skin.
use plain 'for', not 'for to'.
I see no benefit to argue with him.
I see no benefit in arguing with him.
use 'benefit in + -ing', not 'to + verb'.

2. extra things a company gives its workers on top of their pay — for example, medi

2.nounB2
Definition

extra things a company gives its workers on top of their pay — for example, medical cover, paid holidays, or money put aside for retirement.

Example

The startup offers free lunches and good health benefits to every full-time worker.

collocation: health benefits

Hadiya took the lower-paid job because the benefits package included free dental care.

collocation: benefits package

Common collocations
  • employee benefits
  • benefits package
  • health benefits
  • retirement benefits
  • company benefits
Synonyms
  • perk

    informal everyday word for the same idea, especially small extras like free coffee

  • fringe benefit

    more formal HR term; emphasises that it is on top of salary

Grammar Patterns

employee benefits

benefits package

Usage Note

Almost always plural in this sense. Common modifiers name what the extra covers: health, dental, retirement, parental-leave. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense refers specifically to non-cash items provided by an employer.

Common Mistakes

My new company gives a good benefit.
My new company gives good benefits.
this sense is normally plural.

3. money paid by the state to people who are out of work, sick, retired, or otherwi

3.nounB2
Definition

money paid by the state to people who are out of work, sick, retired, or otherwise unable to earn enough to live on.

Example

After losing his factory job, Daniel claimed unemployment benefits for six months.

verb: claim + benefits

Many older residents in the village rely on a small state benefit each week.

rely on + state benefit

Common collocations
  • claim benefits
  • unemployment benefit
  • housing benefit
  • child benefit
  • on benefits
Synonyms
  • welfare

    more common in American English; covers the whole system of state support

  • allowance

    a regular fixed payment, sometimes for a specific purpose like childcare

Grammar Patterns

claim benefits

on benefits

Usage Note

More common in British English; American English often uses 'welfare' or specific names like 'Social Security'. Common collocations: 'claim/receive/draw benefits', 'on benefits' (= relying on this money to live).

Common Mistakes

She is in benefits since last winter.
She has been on benefits since last winter.
the fixed phrase is 'on benefits'.

4. the money or service that an insurance policy or pension plan pays out when some

4.noun
Definition

the money or service that an insurance policy or pension plan pays out when something covered by the contract happens.

Example

After her father died, Aiko filed a claim for the life-insurance benefit.

collocation: life-insurance benefit

The policy pays a monthly benefit if the holder cannot work because of illness.

pay + a benefit (insurance context)

Common collocations
  • death benefit
  • disability benefit
  • claim a benefit
  • pay a benefit
  • monthly benefit
Synonyms
  • payout

    informal; emphasises the act of paying the money

  • claim

    the request you file; the money you actually receive is the benefit

Grammar Patterns

claim a benefit

death benefit

Usage Note

Used inside insurance, pension, or annuity contracts. Common compounds: 'death benefit', 'disability benefit', 'survivor benefit'. Distinguish from sense 3: this money comes from a private contract, not the government.

Common Mistakes

My insurance gave me a benefit of $50,000.
My insurance paid out a benefit of $50,000.
the natural verb is 'pay (out)', not 'give'.

5. a concert, dinner, or similar event held so that the ticket money can go to a ch

5.noun
Definition

a concert, dinner, or similar event held so that the ticket money can go to a charity, a sick person, or another good cause.

Example

Local musicians played a benefit at the town hall to help families after the flood.

noun used alone: 'a benefit' = the event itself

The benefit concert raised over forty thousand dollars for the children's hospital.

compound: benefit concert

Common collocations
  • benefit concert
  • benefit dinner
  • benefit gala
  • hold a benefit
  • benefit for
Synonyms
  • fundraiser

    broader; any event whose purpose is to raise money for a cause

  • charity event

    neutral, descriptive; less specific about the format

Grammar Patterns

benefit concert

benefit for someone

Usage Note

Often used as a modifier before another noun: 'benefit concert', 'benefit dinner', 'benefit gala'. Use 'a benefit for X' to name who or what the money is meant to help.

Common Mistakes

They held a benefit to the earthquake victims.
They held a benefit for the earthquake victims.
the preposition is 'for', not 'to'.
Idioms

give somebody the benefit of the doubt

idiom

To believe someone's statement or behavior is honest even though you cannot prove it.

Even though his story seemed strange, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

The judge decided to give the young defendant the benefit of the doubt.

benefit — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words point to something good, but they are not interchangeable. 'Benefit' focuses on the helpful effect itself — what improves because of a thing or action ('the benefits of regular exercise'). 'Advantage' compares positions: it suggests being ahead of someone or something else ('home-team advantage', 'the advantages of being tall'). 'Perk' is informal and usually small or work-related, like free coffee or a parking space; saying 'the perks of the job' sounds light, while 'the benefits of the job' sounds neutral or formal. 'Upside' is informal and almost always sits opposite a downside in a mixed situation ('one upside of the rain was the cooler air'). 'Asset' shifts the meaning: it names the useful thing or person you possess ('honesty is her greatest asset'), not the good effect that thing produces. So: a fast metabolism is an asset; staying slim is an advantage over rivals; being a tester gets you a perk like free shoes; and feeling more energetic is the benefit.

benefit ↗advantage ↗perkupside ↗asset ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • health benefits
  • benefits package
  • benefit concert
  • tax benefits

Adverbs

Phrases

  • for the benefit of
  • of mutual benefit
  • the benefit of the doubt
  • to your benefit

Prepositions

  • benefit from
  • benefit for
  • benefit to
  • of benefit

Etymology

LatinAnglo-FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Borrowed into late Middle English from Anglo-French 'benfet' and earlier Latin 'bene factum', literally 'a thing well done' — from 'bene' ('well') and 'factum' ('done'). The first sense in English was a kind deed or favour. Over centuries the meaning broadened from the action to its result, giving the modern idea of any good outcome. The financial uses (welfare payments, insurance payouts) developed only in the 19th and 20th centuries, when governments and insurance companies started using the word for regulated payments.