benefit corporation

noun

US law
: a for-profit corporation whose purpose is to provide a benefit to society (as improving the environment or good health) in addition to making a profit for shareholders

called also B corporation

Examples of benefit corporation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Preservation Trust leases to a public benefit corporation created by the state. — Jasmin Sanchez, New York Daily News, 9 June 2026 OpenAI has been working to transition its governance model into a public benefit corporation structure, a change aimed at easing capital access and enabling broader partnerships. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026 OpenAI's for-profit arm is also a public benefit corporation controlled by a nonprofit foundation whose directors must balance shareholder returns against a broader mission—a structure whose instability was laid bare when OpenAI's board fired and briefly ousted Sam Altman in 2023. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 2 June 2026 That legislation was written to benefit corporations and the wealthiest Americans. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for benefit corporation

Word History

First Known Use

2009, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of benefit corporation was in 2009

Rhymes for benefit corporation

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Browse Nearby Words

benefit
benefit corporation
benefit of clergy
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Cite this Entry

“Benefit corporation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benefit%20corporation. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

benefit corporation

see also:
corporation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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