Benign
Gentle and kind-hearted; harmless or not dangerous, especially in medical contexts describing non-cancerous conditions or tumors.
adjectiveBenign
Gentle and kind-hearted; harmless or not dangerous, especially in medical contexts describing non-cancerous conditions or tumors.
adjectiveImagine This
Picture a calm nurse gently reassuring a patient: the doctor tells the patient that the growth is benign, meaning it is not cancerous and poses no serious threat. The scene emphasizes safety, gentleness, and reassurance.
Sounds Like
BIH-nyn
Looks Like
Looks like benevolent or benign contain the same root bene- meaning good; visually resembles words with a positive meaning such as benevolent.
Remember This
Benign is the opposite of malignant in medical usage. It also describes a kind, favorable character or effect, not harmful in general usage.
Other Forms
Connect With
harmless, innocuous, benevolent, mild, favorable (prognosis)
Note
In medicine, benign indicates not cancerous. Do not confuse with 'benign neglect,' which is a phrase describing a deliberately relaxed approach; context usually clarifies whether it means harmless or intentional neglect. Avoid using benign to describe something clearly harmful.