Words / B2

ben-i-FISH-uh-ree/ˌbenɪˈfɪʃəri/

A beneficiary is a person who receives money or help from a will, trust, fund, or scheme: the main beneficiary, beneficiaries of the grant. Recipient is a close formal cousin; heir is narrower (inherits by law or will). Benefit is the related verb/noun. In speech, the person who gets the money is enough. The word is legal and financial. Do not call every happy student a beneficiary of a lesson unless you mean a named scheme.

Meaning

A person who receives money or help from a will, fund, or scheme.

Examples

• “She is the main beneficiary of her aunt’s will.”
• “The scholarship named three beneficiaries; the rest of the shortlist had a letter of thanks.”
• “Under the will, the cat’s care fund had a human beneficiary who paid the vet.”

Good to know

Person who receives money/help from a will, fund, or scheme. Everyday: the person who gets it. Close: recipient. Legal/financial tone.

Near in meaning

recipient

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