Meaning & use
benefactress
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Meaning
nouncountableold-fashioned
A woman who gives money or help to a person or cause.
Grammar: Countable noun; use 'a benefactress' or 'benefactresses'.
Patterns
- a benefactress of something
- a generous benefactress
The hospital was founded by a wealthy benefactress.
She was a benefactress of the arts, supporting many young painters.
In the 19th century, a benefactress often funded schools for girls.
Word forms
| plural | benefactresses |
|---|
Common combinations
- wealthy benefactress
- A wealthy benefactress donated the land for the park.
- benefactress of the arts
- She was a well-known benefactress of the arts.
- generous benefactress
- The generous benefactress paid for the new library.
Synonyms and how they differ
- benefactor
- Benefactor is the gender-neutral term and is now preferred in modern writing.
- patron
- Patron often implies ongoing support for an artist or organization, while benefactress emphasizes giving money or help.
- donor
- Donor is used for someone who gives money, blood, or organs, often in medical or charity contexts.
Word family
- benefactor noun
- A person who gives money or help; the gender-neutral form.
- benefaction noun
- The act of giving money or help, or the gift itself.
Commonly confused: benefactress or beneficiary?
benefactress vs beneficiary
A beneficiary receives money or help, while a benefactress gives it.
Practice
The museum's new wing was paid for by a generous ______.
Choose one answer.
A benefactress is a woman who gives money or help, fitting the context of funding a museum wing. 'Beneficiary' is a receiver, 'beneficial' is an adjective meaning helpful, and 'beneficent' is an adjective meaning doing good.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “benefactress”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.