Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
cui bono
phrase
koo-ee boh-noh
Definition
a Latin phrase meaning ‘who benefits?’; often used to suggest that one should consider who stands to gain from an action or event.
Examples
- In discussions about political corruption, it’s important to ask cui bono; understanding the beneficiaries can reveal hidden agendas.
- The detective kept asking himself cui bono after every clue he found, trying to uncover who had the most to gain from the crime.
Meaning
The phrase implies that the motive behind an action can often be discovered by examining who profits from it.
Synonyms
- Who benefits?
- Who gains?
- For whose advantage?
