benefice
noun
ben·e·fice
ˈbe-nə-fəs 
1
: an ecclesiastical office to which the revenue from an endowment is attached
2
: a feudal estate in lands : fief
benefice
transitive verb
Examples of benefice in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Vicar of Bray was a celebrated side-switching clergyman who managed to retain his benefice during the religious controversies of the mid-16th century by constantly shifting his allegiance.
—
D.j. Taylor, WSJ, 29 Oct. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
D.j. Taylor, WSJ, 29 Oct. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Benefice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benefice. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
benefice
noun
ben·e·fice
ˈben-ə-fəs
: a post held by a member of the clergy that gives the right to use certain property and to receive income from stated sources
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share