What does beneficiary mean?
Word: Beneficiary
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Beneficiary means a person or group that receives money, help or some other advantage from a scheme, a fund or the kindness of others.
Word origin: Came into English in the early 1600s from Latin, where it was formed from the word for a kindness or favour.
How do you spell beneficiary?
Syllables: ben - e - fi - cia - ry
Tricky part: The end is said "shuh-ree", with no clear i sound, so students drop the i and write beneficary or beneficery.
Watch out for: beneficary, beneficery, benefitiary
Memory tip: The last four letters are the last four letters of diary: write -iary, even though you do not hear the i.
Beneficiary in a sentence
Example 1: Every village school in the district was a beneficiary of the new mobile library.
Example 2: Farmers along the new canal are its biggest beneficiaries.
Example 3: As the youngest player, Meera gained most from the coach's extra sessions, so she was the real beneficiary.
Fun Fact
Government scheme websites in India often have a 'beneficiary list' page, where a family can check whether its name has been included.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the option in which the following letters will fit in the given order:
e, e, i
a) s_cr_t_ry
b) d_l_c_te
c) c_r_m_ny
d) b_n_f_ciary
Show answer
d) b_n_f_ciary. Only beneficiary takes e, e and then i; secretary ends its run with a, delicate goes e, i, a and ceremony goes e, e, o.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its synonym:
1. beneficiary 2. adversary 3. emissary a. envoy b. opponent c. recipient
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
b) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
Show answer
d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. A beneficiary is on the receiving end, an adversary is the other side in a contest, and an emissary carries a message.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
ciyrenbefia
a) the one who ends up gaining from a plan or a gift
b) the one who designs the buildings of a city
c) the one who keeps the accounts of a business
d) the one who looks after the books in a library
Show answer
a) the one who ends up gaining from a plan or a gift. The letters give beneficiary: whoever a plan or a gift is meant to help.
Spell Spies
Choose the pair which has a spelling error:
a) secretary : secretaries
b) beneficiary : beneficiaries
c) dictionary : dictionarys
d) boundary : boundaries
Show answer
c) dictionary : dictionarys. After a consonant, a final y becomes ies in the plural, so dictionary becomes dictionaries.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A scheme gives free bicycles to girls in village schools. Who are its beneficiaries?
a) the officials who planned the scheme
b) the girls who receive the bicycles
c) the teachers who fill in the forms
d) the reporters who write about it
Show answer
b) the girls who receive the bicycles
2. The person who gives the money that a beneficiary receives can be called a ___.
a) debtor
b) rival
c) tenant
d) donor
Show answer
d) donor
