Meaning & use
beneficiaries
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“beneficiaries” is a form of “beneficiary”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplurallegalformal
People or groups who receive money, property or another advantage, for example from a will, an insurance policy or a program.
Grammar: Plural; the singular is beneficiary: the main beneficiary.
Patterns
- beneficiaries of something
- beneficiaries under something
The beneficiaries of the will include three nieces and a local charity.
Students were the main beneficiaries of the new scholarship scheme.
Insurance companies must pay the named beneficiaries promptly.
nounplural
People or groups who gain from a policy, event or change, even if they did not plan it.
Grammar: Often followed by of: the beneficiaries of the tax cut.
Patterns
- beneficiaries of something
Small farmers were the biggest beneficiaries of the new road.
The tax change had clear beneficiaries and clear losers.
Commuters are the unexpected beneficiaries of the schedule change.
Common combinations
- main beneficiaries
- The main beneficiaries are young families.
- named beneficiaries
- The named beneficiaries received the money last month.
- beneficiaries of the will
- The beneficiaries of the will gathered at the lawyer's office.
- intended beneficiaries
- The intended beneficiaries of the aid never received it.
- primary beneficiaries
- Primary beneficiaries are paid first under the policy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- recipients
- Recipients simply receive something, whereas beneficiaries gain a benefit or legal right.
- heirs
- Heirs inherit specifically after a death, while beneficiaries can receive from policies or programs too.
- winners
- Winners is informal and suggests competition, while beneficiaries is neutral and formal.
Opposites
Word family
- beneficiary noun
- a single person who gains
- benefit noun
- an advantage or payment
- benefit verb
- to gain an advantage
- beneficial adjective
- helpful
Commonly confused: beneficiaries or benefactors?
beneficiaries vs benefactors
Benefactors are the people who give money or help, while beneficiaries are the ones who receive it.
Practice
After the founder died, the main ____ of her fortune were her grandchildren.
Choose one answer.
Beneficiaries receive the money. Benefactors and donors give it, and executors manage the estate rather than receiving it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “beneficiaries”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.