beneficiary Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the recipient of funds or other benefits
    donee.
  2. noun the semantic role of the intended recipient who benefits from the happening denoted by the verb in the clause
    benefactive role.
  3. adjective having or arising from a benefice
    • a beneficiary baron

WordNet

Ben`e*fi"ci*a*ry adjective
Etymology
Cf. F. bénéficiaire, LL. beneficiarius.
Definitions
  1. Holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to another; holding under a feudal or other superior; having a dependent and secondary possession.
    A feudatory or beneficiary king of England. Bacon.
  2. Bestowed as a gratuity; as, beneficiary gifts.
Ben`e*fi"ci*a*ry noun
Wordforms
plural Beneficiaries
Definitions
  1. A feudatory or vassal; hence, one who holds a benefice and uses its proceeds. Ayliffe.
  2. One who receives anything as a gift; one who receives a benefit or advantage; esp. one who receives help or income from an educational fund or a trust estate.
    The rich men will be offering sacrifice to their Deity whose beneficiaries they are. Jer. Taylor.

Webster 1913