WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026ben•e•fice
(ben′ə fis),USA pronunciation n., v., -ficed, -fic•ing. n.
- a position or post granted to an ecclesiastic that guarantees a fixed amount of property or income.
- the revenue itself.
- Medieval History, World Historythe equivalent of a fief in the early Middle Ages.
v.t.
- to invest with a benefice or ecclesiastical living.
- Latin beneficium service, kindness (benefic(us) benefic + -ium -ium)
- Middle French
- Middle English 1300–50
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
benefice /ˈbɛnɪfɪs/ n - an endowed Church office yielding an income to its holder; a Church living
- the property or revenue attached to such an office
- (in feudal society) a tenement (piece of land) held by a vassal from a landowner on easy terms or free, esp in return for military support
See also vassalage
vb - (transitive) to provide with a benefice
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French, from Latin beneficium benefit, from beneficus, from bene well + facere to do