benéfica

Benéfica is the feminine form of the Portuguese adjective benéfico, used to describe something that provides benefit, help, or a positive impact, often in a charitable or philanthropic sense. In everyday language it commonly qualifies actions, institutions, or causes that aim to aid others, such as obras benéficas, instituições benéficas or causas benéficas.

Etymology and sense: The term derives from Latin bene- meaning “well” and a root related to facere or beneficus, entering Portuguese as benéfico and its feminine form benéfica. Related words include benefício (benefit), beneficente and caridade, which are used in overlapping but distinct contexts.

Usage notes: Benéfica agrees in gender with the noun it modifies. The masculine counterpart is benéfico. While benéfica emphasizes the beneficial or charitable character of something, other common synonyms include beneficente (often referring to organizations or actions that perform charitable work) and caritativo (emphasizing charity). Phrases such as obra benéfica, instituição benéfica e ação benéfica are frequent in formal and informal Portuguese.

See also: Benefício, Beneficente, Beneficência, Caridade, Filantropia.