benign

[bih-nahyn] /bɪˈnaɪn/

adjective

having a kindly disposition; gracious:

a benign king.

showing or expressive of gentleness or kindness:

a benign smile.

favorable; propitious:

a series of benign omens and configurations in the heavens.

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

Pathology. not malignant; self-limiting.

Origin

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

Related forms

benignly, adverb

superbenign, adjective

superbenignly, adverb

unbenign, adjective

unbenignly, adverb

Synonyms

1. good, kindly, benignant, benevolent, tender, humane, gentle, compassionate.

Antonyms

3. sinister.

Examples from the web for benign

In laboratory tests, they found that adding sarcosine to prostate cells caused benign cells to become cancerous and invasive.
The second jolt came in the form of a benign tumor the size of a golf ball.
You guys are being comically defensive about what was originally a fairly benign statement.
Historically, most deflations have been benign, caused by technological innovation and associated with robust growth.
They found a small benign tumor on his liver and removed it.
Pastoral scenes are safe places with a benign climate and a likelihood of plentiful food.
Yet recycling, under the current system, is less benign than it sounds.
Some tumors are referred to as benign because they don't spread elsewhere in the body.
Some of them are benign, and some of them are malignant.
He's almost never without a benign grin, a smile so pearly-white perfect that he could get work in a teeth-bleaching ad.

British Dictionary definitions for benign

benign

/bɪˈnaɪn/

adjective

showing kindliness; genial

(of soil, climate, etc) mild; gentle

favourable; propitious

(pathol) (of a tumour, etc) not threatening to life or health; not malignant

Derived Forms

benignly, adverb

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for benign

adj.

early 14c., from Old French benigne (12c., "kind, benign, merciful, gracious;" Modern French bénin, fem. bénigne), from Latin benignus "kindly, kindhearted, friendly, generous," literally "well born," from bene "well" (see bene-) + gignere "to bear, beget," from genus "birth" (see genus). For similar sense evolution, cf. gentle, kind (adj.), generous. Related: Benignly.

benign in Medicine

benign be·nign (bĭ-nīn')
adj.
Of no danger to health, especially relating to a tumorous growth; not malignant.

benign in Science

benign

(bĭ-nīn')
Not life-threatening or severe, and likely to respond to treatment, as a tumor that is not malignant. Compare malignant.

benign in Culture

benign [(bi-neyen)]

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

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