benign

[ bih-nahyn ]

adjective

1. Pathology. not malignant; self-limiting:

   a benign brain tumor.

2. having no harmful influence or effect:

   ecologically benign and sustainable building materials.

3. having a kindly disposition; gracious:

   a benign king.

   Synonyms: compassionate, gentle, humane, tender, benevolent, benignant, kindly, good

4. showing or expressive of gentleness or kindness:

   a benign smile.

5. favorable; propitious:

   a series of benign omens and configurations in the heavens.

   Antonyms: sinister

6. (of weather) pleasant or beneficial; salubrious; healthful.

benign

/ bɪˈnaɪn /

adjective

1. showing kindliness; genial
2. (of soil, climate, etc) mild; gentle
3. favourable; propitious
4. pathol (of a tumour, etc) not threatening to life or health; not malignant

benign

/ bĭ-nīn′ /

1. Not life-threatening or severe, and likely to respond to treatment, as a tumor that is not malignant.
2. Compare malignant

benign

1. A descriptive term for conditions that present no danger to life or well-being. Benign is the opposite of malignant .

Notes

The term benign is used when describing tumors or growths that do not threaten the health of an individual.

Derived Forms

• beˈnignly, adverb

Other Words From

• be·nign·ly adverb
• su·per·be·nign adjective
• un·be·nign adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of benign¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English benigne, from Anglo-French, Old French benigne (feminine), benin (masculine), from Latin benignus “kind, generous,” equivalent to beni-, combining form of bonus “good” ( bene- ) + -gnus, derivative of the base of gignere “to beget” ( genitor, genus ), hence, perhaps, “good by nature”; malign

Word History and Origins

Origin of benign¹

C14: from Old French benigne , from Latin benignus , from bene well + gignere to produce

Example Sentences

Even a seemingly benign downgrade — from “honorable” to “general discharge under honorable conditions” — makes a difference.

From Los Angeles Times

In the run-up to the 2018 midterm elections, Elizabeth Bruenig wrote for the Washington Post that Halloween “gets its depth and intrigue from the layering of things that seem frightening but are really benign — toothy jack-o’-lanterns, ghoulish costumes, tales of ghosts and witches and monsters — atop things that seem benign but are really frightening, such as the passage of the harvest season into the long, cold dark.”

From Los Angeles Times

By bonding, the medicine transforms the reactive metals into benign molecules that have little interest in interacting with different compounds in the body.

From Los Angeles Times

A second Trump term wouldn’t be a benign rerun of the first version.

From Los Angeles Times

Most types of E. coli bacteria are benign, and even a healthy part of our digestive system.

From Slate

Related Words

• benevolent
• favorable
• friendly
• gentle
• mild