Word of the Day: benevolent
Part of speech: adjective
Pronunciation: /bəˈnɛvələnt/
Simple meaning: kind, generous, and willing to help other people.
Listen to the pronunciation
What Does Benevolent Mean?
A benevolent person wants good things to happen to others and often acts to help them. The word can describe a person, an organization, or an action. It usually suggests more than polite behaviour. Benevolence includes a real wish to reduce hardship or improve another person’s life.
The adjective comes from Latin parts connected with “well” and “wishing.” This origin makes the main idea easy to remember: a benevolent person wishes others well. The opposite is malevolent, which describes someone or something that intends harm.
Examples
- The benevolent neighbour delivered warm meals during the winter.
- Her strict expression hid a benevolent purpose.
- The library grew because of a benevolent gift from a local reader.
Use It While You Listen
Use this word with A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens shows Ebenezer Scrooge changing from an isolated miser into a generous member of his community. Notice that benevolence is not only a feeling in the story. It becomes visible through attention, gifts, time, and practical care. When you hear a character help another person, decide whether benevolent accurately describes the action.
Related words: kind, charitable, generous, compassionate, helpful.
Swedish: välvillig · German: wohlwollend · French: bienveillant.
Sources and Audio Credit
The pronunciation, meaning, and word history were checked against Wiktionary. This page uses original BookAud explanations and examples. The pronunciation was recorded by Steve Shives and is available from Wikimedia Commons under the CC0 public-domain dedication. The audio is used without modification.