- Producing or promoting a favorable result; advantageous.
- Law. Receiving or having the right to receive proceeds or other advantages.
[Middle English, from Old French beneficial, from Late Latin beneficiālis, from Latin beneficium, benefit. See benefice.]
beneficially ben'e·fi'cial·ly adv.beneficialness ben'e·fi'cial·ness n.
SYNONYMS beneficial, profitable, advantageous. These adjectives apply to what promotes a favorable result or gain. Beneficial is said of what enhances well-being: a trade agreement beneficial to all countries. Profitable refers to what yields material gain or useful compensation: profitable speculation on the stock market. Something advantageous affords improvement in relative position or in chances of success: found it socially advantageous to entertain often and well.
