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Glite Dictionary
good of

good of

291 3.3
A benefit that helps someone or something
  • noun
translation icon : bien de
  • Know that all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord.
  • the common good of
  • the good of the community
  • pursue the good of

In this latter resides the highest good of humankind.

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Examples

  • And may all the resources be used for the greatest good of all, you know?

  • Because animals behave for the good of the species.

  • Yes, I will fight my brothers for the good of the Empire.

  • And you use it for the good of mankind.

    Spider-Man 2 (2004)

  • In Cuba, we work for the good of all.

    Vixen! (1968)

  • But being sheriff allows me to extend that power for the good of all.

    The Bone Eater (2008)

  • When each part does so, it contributes to the good of the whole or the common good.

    Academic text (2008)

  • One simple life sacrifice for the good of all mankind, and us of course.

    Tammy and the T-Rex (1994)

  • Can the opposing groups work together for the good of Mali and the education of us all?

    Academic text (1995)

  • To maintain peace, we must make sacrifices for the good of the community.

Synonyms

benefit
vsgood of
∞ 1.0

An advantage that helps people or a community

is the simple idea of advantage or positive effect
good
vsgood of
348 1.3

Something that helps or gives an advantage

is the broader idea of advantage or useful outcome

Antonyms

to disadvantage
18 4.7

To make someone or something less able to succeed than others

How Beneficial

good of
291 3.3
no use
133 2.5
to harm
738 1.0

Surface Forms

good of singular
goods of plural

Morphology

good + of

The phrase combines the noun 'good' (meaning benefit) with the preposition 'of' to mark possession/relation, yielding the straightforward meaning 'the benefit of X'. This is a regular, compositional NP + preposition pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily derive the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The phrase good of comes from an old idea that good means something useful and of shows who it belongs to. Imagine a cake that is good and meant for a group: the 'good of' the community is the part of the cake for everyone, so it now means the 'benefit' or 'advantage' for someone.