One who is benevolent genuinely wishes other people well, a meaning reflected clearly in the word's Latin roots: benevolent comes from bene, meaning "good," and velle, meaning "to wish."

BENEVOLENT definition: 1. kind and helpful: 2. giving money or help to people or organizations that need it: 3. kind and…. Learn more.

Benevolent definition: characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings.. See examples of BENEVOLENT used in a sentence.

Definition of benevolent adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

If you describe a person in authority as benevolent, you mean that they are kind and fair. The company has proved to be a most benevolent employer. They believe that the country needs a …

1. intending or showing goodwill; kindly; friendly: a benevolent smile; a benevolent old man. 2. doing good or giving aid to others, rather than making profit; charitable: a benevolent …

be•nev•o•lent (bə nev′ ə lənt), adj. characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings: a benevolent attitude; her benevolent smile. desiring to help others; charitable: gifts from several …

Nov 3, 2025 · Possessing or manifesting love for mankind. This bill was not a gift from a benevolent legislature; it was a victory for the community which worked for its passage.

To be benevolent, it helps to have money, but it's not necessary; kind assistance of a nonfinancial sort may turn out to be lifesaving benevolence as well.

Thus, the word 'benevolent' encapsulates a longstanding notion of positive intentions and actions toward the betterment of others, rooted in its linguistic heritage.