beneficiary

UK: /ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəri/

US: /ˌbɛnəˈfɪʃiˌɛri, -ˈfɪʃəri/

US: (ben′ə fish′ē er′ē, -fish′ə rē)

Inflections of 'beneficiary' (n): npl: beneficiaries

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ben•e•fi•ci•ar•y /ˌbɛnəˈfɪʃiˌɛri, -ˈfɪʃəri/   n. [countable] , pl. -ar•ies. 

1. Business one that receives benefits:
   The rich are the only beneficiaries of the new tax bill.
2. Business a person designated to receive property under a will or trust:
   My daughters are the sole beneficiaries.

See -bene-, -fac-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ben•e•fi•ci•ar•y  (ben′ə fish′ē er′ē, -fish′ə rē), n., pl. -ar•ies. 

1. Business a person or group that receives benefits, profits, or advantages.
2. Business a person designated as the recipient of funds or other property under a will, trust, insurance policy, etc.
3. [Eccles.] the holder of a benefice.

• Latin beneficiārius, equivalent. to benefici(um) benefice + -ārius -ary
• 1605–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

beneficiary / ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃərɪ/ noun ( -ciaries)

1. a person who gains or benefits in some way from something
2. a person entitled to receive funds or other property under a trust, will, or insurance policy
3. the holder of an ecclesiastical or other benefice
4. a person who receives government assistance: social security beneficiary

adjective

1. of or relating to a benefice or the holder of a benefice