benign

American  

[bih-nahyn] / bɪˈnaɪn /

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.

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benign British  

/ 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

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benign Scientific  

/ bĭ-nīn′ /

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

2. Compare malignant

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benign Cultural  

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

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Usage

What’s the difference between benign and malignant? In a medical context, the word benign is used to describe masses or tumors that are not cancerous—those that do not spread disease to other parts of the body. The word malignant is the opposite—it’s used to describe harmful masses or tumors that are cancerous and that grow and spread disease.Both words are sometimes also used in general ways. Benign can mean kind, favorable, or gracious, while malignant can mean harmful or intended or intending to cause harm.The best clue to help remember their meanings is the prefix mal-, which means “bad” and shows up in a lot of other negative words, such as malfunction, malpractice, malicious, and maleficent.Here’s an example of benign and malignant used correctly in the same sentence.Example: She was afraid the lump was a malignant tumor, but it turned out to be a benign cyst—totally harmless.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between benign and malignant.

Discover More

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

Other Word Forms

• benignly adverb
• superbenign adjective
• unbenign adjective

Etymology

Origin of benign

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

Example Sentences

It is worth noting that vulnerabilities in private credit are increasing at a time when economic growth is still strong and financial conditions are very accommodative, while the credit cycle is still benign.

From MarketWatch

To conduct the analysis, scientists first reviewed tumor and benign tissue samples under visual inspection.

From Science Daily

The country’s ports industry enjoys a benign competitive environment, as the market’s capital-intensive nature and regulatory requirements raise the barriers to entry for new private players, the analysts note.

From The Wall Street Journal

The service would be benign, they say, if it stuck to the delivery of materials, such as light bulbs and batteries, that can be recycled.

From Los Angeles Times

He was scheduled to go in for a procedure to remove a benign tumor near his lung on the day he was found, the outlet said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• benevolent
• favorable
• friendly
• gentle
• mild