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

It is possible that life may have gained a foothold, given the evidence that the planet once had a much more benign environment.

From Singularity Hub 

My two personal oncology physicians were the ones who advised a conservative strategy of monitoring those nodules in my neck, which could prove to be benign.

From Fortune

As the election approaches, the building trend of employee activism against employers seems to be taking a benign turn—but don’t imagine that America’s employers and workers are now united in peace and love.

From Fortune

These other ingredients, which are combined with the therapeutic one, are often sourced from around the world before landing in your medicine cabinet and are not always benign.

From Popular-Science

Sometimes doctors inject patients with benign chemicals that enhance the contrast visible in the image.

From Fortune

I always saw the horrific side of this seemingly benign environment.

From The Daily Beast

Unstoppable or not, John H has seen little in his 38 years to persuade him progress is benign.

From The Daily Beast

It is not some benign magical sleep as shown on TV, where people wake up a year later and are instantly back to normal.

From The Daily Beast

Eric lobbies for an industry of benign usefulness, non-partisan in nature, and over which no cloud of serious controversy looms.

From The Daily Beast

To use a relatively benign example, they are to the Pentagon what Silicon Valley startups were to Eastman Kodak.

From The Daily Beast

Benign respdit pater ipse Membertou neophytos se esse, verum imperarem; in mea potestate esse omnia.

From Project Gutenberg

Ab eo igitur tpore Patres nostros perhumaniter habuit, atque honorific in omnibus, mensque benign accepit.

From Project Gutenberg

He surveyed the crowd in the court-room with calm indifference, and seldom glanced at the gray-bearded, benign-looking judge.

From Project Gutenberg

"No passion, Colombaik," put in the benign Joan, again interrupting the impetuous young man.

From Project Gutenberg

He looked very benign as he quoted these verses in the pulpit on Sunday morning, with a half smile, as of pleased meditation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• benevolent
• favorable
• friendly
• gentle
• mild

Benign Vs. Malignant

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.

Quiz yourself on benign vs. malignant!

Should benign or malignant be used in the following sentence?

I can assure you that my intentions are completely _____—I mean no harm.