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Heir vs Beneficiary - What's the difference?

heir | beneficiary |

As nouns the difference between heir and beneficiary

is that heir is someone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another while beneficiary is one who benefits or receives an advantage.

As an adjective beneficiary is

holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to another; holding under a feudal or other superior; having a dependent and secondary possession.

heir

English

Noun

(en noun) (Inheritance)
  • Someone who inherits, or is designated to inherit, the property of another.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • *:I am my father's heir and only son.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1959, author=(Georgette Heyer), title=(The Unknown Ajax), chapter=1
  • , passage=And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott […]: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that disaster occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir .}}
  • One who inherits, or has been designated to inherit, a hereditary title or office.
  • A successor in a role, representing continuity with the predecessor.
  • *(Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
  • *:And I his heir in misery alone.
  • *
  • *:"I wish we were back in Tenth Street. But so many children came"
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-05-11, volume=407, issue=8835, page=12, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= What a waste , passage=India is run by gerontocrats and epigones: grey hairs and groomed heirs .}}

    beneficiary

    English

    Noun

    (beneficiaries)
  • One who benefits or receives an advantage.
  • You are the lucky beneficiary of this special offer.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2012
  • , date=September 7 , author=Dominic Fifield , title=England start World Cup campaign with five-goal romp against Moldova , work=The Guardian citation , page= , passage=The most obvious beneficiary of the visitors' superiority was Frank Lampard. By the end of the night he was perched 13th in the list of England's most prolific goalscorers, having leapfrogged Sir Geoff Hurst to score his 24th and 25th international goals. No other player has managed more than the Chelsea midfielder's 11 in World Cup qualification ties, with this a display to roll back the years. }}
  • (legal) One who benefits from the distribution, especially of an estate.
  • If any beneficiary''' does not survive the Settlor for a period of 30 days then the Trustee shall distribute that '''beneficiary'''’s share to the surviving '''beneficiaries by right of representation.

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to another; holding under a feudal or other superior; having a dependent and secondary possession.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • a feudatory or beneficiary king of England
  • Bestowed as a gratuity.
  • beneficiary gifts