Meaning

noun the recipient of funds or other benefits

noun the semantic role of the intended recipient who benefits from the happening denoted by the verb in the clause

adjective having or arising from a benefice

originFrom Latin beneficiarius (“enjoying a favor, granted a privilege”) from beneficium (“benefit”), perhaps via or influenced by French bénéficiaire (“beneficiary”). Indirectly, by way of the etymology of the Latin word beneficium, the English word beneficiary ultimately has the same origin as the English word benefactor, its near antonym.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0