beneficence

be·ne·fi·cence
B3E1N1E1F4I1C3E1N1C3E1
UK/bəˈnɛf.ɪ.səns/US/bəˈnɛ.fə.sən(t)s/

noun

The practice of doing good, such as acts of philanthropy, kind deeds; or other acts which benefit someone else.

Similar
kindnessbenevolencecharitygenerositygoodness
Opposite
crueltymaleficencemalevolenceselfishness
OriginMiddle English beneficence ← Latin beneficentia →
UncommonScrabble 20
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Meanings

nounbeneficence (countable and uncountable, plural beneficences)

plural beneficences

  1. countableuncountableThe practice of doing good, such as acts of philanthropy, kind deeds; or other acts which benefit someone else.

    Trump also promises to attack the sources abroad that he blames for the country’s malaise: economic interdependence, transnational criminals, traditional allies he sees as free riders on America’s long-running global beneficence.

    2024 December 12, Eric Cortellessa, “Donald Trump 2024 TIME Person of the Year”, in Time, archived from the original on 22 Dec 2024

    Synonyms: kindness, benevolence, charity, generosity

  2. countableuncountableGood or charitable character or behavior.
  3. countableuncountableethicsA duty or obligation to act in the best interests of another, especially a patient or beneficiary.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe practice of doing good, such as acts of philanthropy, kind deeds; or other acts which benefit someone else.

Similar
kindnessbenevolencecharitygenerosity
Similar
goodness
Opposite
crueltymaleficencemalevolenceselfishness

More synonyms by meaning

noundoing good; feeling beneficent

Opposite
maleficence
Broader
benevolence

nounthe quality of being kind or helpful or generous

Opposite
maleficence
Broader
goodgoodness
Also see
goodnessvirtuousness

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinbeneficentia
  2. Middle Englishbeneficence
  3. Englishbeneficence

From Middle English beneficence, from Latin beneficentia.

More words from Middle English, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic مَعْرُوف
  • مَعْرُوف (maʕrūf)act of philanthropy
Irish dea-ghníomhaíocht, dea-obair
  • dea-ghníomhaíochtact of philanthropy
  • dea-obairact of philanthropy
Italian beneficenza
  • beneficenzaact of philanthropy
Portuguese beneficência
  • beneficênciaact of philanthropy
Cite this entry
APA

beneficence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beneficence

MLA

“beneficence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beneficence. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “beneficence,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beneficence.

Source: beneficence on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.