WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
ben•e•fac•tive
(ben′ə fak′tiv),USA pronunciation [Ling.]
adj.
n.
adj.
- Linguisticsof or pertaining to a linguistic form, case, or semantic role that denotes the person or persons for whom an action is performed, as for his son in He opened the door for his son.
n.
- Linguisticsa benefactive form or case.
- Latin benefact(um) benefit, good deed (noun, nominal use of neuter of benefactus; see benefaction) + -ive
- 1940–45