death benefit

noun

: money payable to the beneficiary of a deceased

Examples of death benefit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both term and whole life insurance policies include a terminal illness rider for free, allowing for an advanced death benefit if the insured is diagnosed with a terminal illness. —Liz Knueven, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024

This allows people to tap into their death benefit while still alive to pay for long-term care. —Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024

As with potential death benefits, none of that money went to Pérez’s family. —Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2024

The measure would also establish a $1 million death benefit paid to the family of any officer killed in the line of duty, on top of any existing benefits available. —Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

death benefit

noun

: money payable to the beneficiary of a deceased as a benefit (as under a policy of life or accident insurance or a pension plan)

Note: The right to death benefits is generally terminated in cases of fraud, as when an insured commits suicide after purchasing a policy or when the beneficiary murders the insured.