# beneficiary

/ˌbɛnəˈfɪʃiˌɛɹi/ (US) · /bˌɛnɪfˈɪʃəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beneficiary
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. legal/financial recipient

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a person who receives money or property from a will, a trust, or an insurance policy.

For teachers: a person or entity named to receive assets or payouts from a legal instrument, such as a will, trust, or insurance policy.

- He was named as the sole beneficiary of his uncle's large estate.
- The primary beneficiary of the trust was the deceased's daughter, with secondary provisions made for several local charities.

Usage: Commonly used with the preposition 'of'.

### 2. general recipient of advantage

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

anyone who gets an advantage or profit from something.

For teachers: a person or group that derives an advantage or profit from a specific situation, policy, or event.

- Small businesses were the main beneficiaries of the new tax laws.
- While the trade agreement was intended to help farmers, the largest corporations emerged as the ultimate beneficiaries of the policy shift.

Teaching tip: In academic writing, this term is often used to describe groups affected by social or economic changes.

## Examples

- She is the main beneficiary of her grandmother's will.
- The local school became the primary beneficiary of the charity auction, receiving over fifty thousand dollars for new computers.
- While the legislation was intended to support small businesses, the primary beneficiaries appeared to be large corporations with the legal resources to navigate the complex application process.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.