Word of the Day
: May 27, 2026benevolent
playWhat It Means
Benevolent can describe someone or something that is kind and generous or something that is organized for the purpose of doing good.
// The event's reception was courtesy of a benevolent donor who's chosen to remain anonymous.
// They belong to several benevolent societies and charitable organizations.
benevolent in Context
"The Community Service Award is presented at the local, state and national levels to individuals and groups who have made outstanding voluntary, civil, heroic or benevolent contributions to their communities." — Devin Weeks, The Coeur d'Alene (Idaho) Press, 24 Dec. 2025
Did You Know?
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." Other descendants of velle in English include volition, which refers to the power to make one's own choices or decisions, and voluntary, as well as the rare velleity, meaning either "the lowest degree of volition" or "a slight wish or tendency." A more familiar velle descendant stands directly opposed to benevolent: malevolent describes someone or something having or showing a desire to cause harm to another person.
Test Your Vocabulary with M-W Quizzes
Word Family Quiz
What 6-letter adjective comes from Latin bene and describes things that are harmless or people who are gracious?
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