Oxford Business English Dictionary for Learners of English

[c.u] a helpful and useful effect that sth has: Internet shopping has real benefits for both the consumer and the environment, о We want our shareholders to derive (= get) full benefit from the deal, о The new regulations will be of benefit to everyone concerned, о Consumers in Europe are reaping the benefits (= enjoying the results) of the single currency.

О a potential/real/tangible benefit ♦ a big/great/ huge/significant benefit ♦ an immediate/a long- term/short-term benefit ♦ economic/financial/tax benefits ♦ to derive/get/receive a benefit

[u,C] money that is paid to people who are unemployed, ill, etc., by the government or through a system of insurance i:i=hj In American English the plural benefits is often used in this meaning: He receives social security benefits as a result of an accident at work, о (BrE) Are you entitled to claim unemployment benefit? о (AmE) The number of Americans claiming jobless benefits has risen sharply. welfare

disability/pension/retirement benefits ♦ to apply for/claim/get/qualify for/receive benefits

(HR) [c, usually pi.] the advantages that you get from your company in addition to the money you earn: The company offers a competitive benefits package, о We are finding it difficult to continue to provide the same level of employee benefits

verb (-t- or -tt-)

[no obj] to be in a better position because of sth: Small businesses have benefitted from the changes in the law.

[+ obj] to have a helpful or useful effect on sb/ sth: The new tax laws will benefit people on low wages.

.benefit-'cost analysis = cost-benefit

analysis

'benefit .dollar noun [c] (HR) in the US, a unit of tax-free money that a company gives to its employees in addition to then- pay so that they can buy a range of benefits such as

145 best-if-used-by date

medical care: The leaflet shows you the annual amount of benefit dollars you will receive.

.benefit in 'kind noun [c, usually pi.] (plural benefits in kind)

(Accounting) in the UK, a benefit, such as a car, that a person receives from their company in addition to the money they earn, and for which they have to pay tax.

'benefit .principle noun [sing ] (Economics) a theory that states that the people who benefit more from a government product or service should pay more tax for it than those who benefit less. For example, drivers should pay more tax for roads. ability-to-pay principle

'benefits coordinator noun [c] (HR) a person whose job is to develop and manage the system of benefits that a company offers its employees

bequeath /bi'kwird/ verb [+ obj] (Law, formal, only used in written English) bequeath sth (to sb) | bequeath (sb) sth to say in a will that you want sb to have your property, money, etc. after you die: He bequeathed his entire estate to his daughter. beneficiary, bequest

bequest /bi'kwest/ noun [c] (Law or formal)

money or property that you ask to be given to a particular person when you die: The school received a bequest of $300000.

bespoke /bi'spauk; AmE bi'spouk/ adjective [usually before noun] (especially BrE)

designed and made for a particular customer: bespoke software/solutions о bespoke shoes

isynl custom-made, tailor-made

making products or providing services specially, according to the needs of an individual customer: a bespoke ad agency

the best /best/ noun ПЗЛ the .best and (the) 'brightest the most intelligent and skilful people: the best and brightest on Wall Street

.best-be'fore date (BrE) (AmE ,best-if-'used-by date) noun [c]

the date by which you are advised to use some types of food and drink, printed on the container or package. Food will be safe after this date, but the quality may not be so good: The flour is not yet past its best-before date. See note on next page.—Picture at packaging

.best 'buy noun [c] a product that has been tested and compared with others of the same type and has been found to be the best product and most worth the money you pay for it: the best buy in a range of washing machines

.best 'efforts noun [pi.]