benign

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /bɪˈnɑen/ UK /bɪˈnaɪn/ See IPA manual

Freq #17450

Meanings

1

adj
Not harmful or dangerous, especially describing a tumour that is not cancerous.

The doctor confirmed that the lump was benign.
2

adj
Kind, gentle, and friendly.

The old man gave the children a benign smile.
3

adj
Pleasant and favourable; not causing harm.

The new policy created a benign environment for small businesses.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · not harmful or dangerous,... non-malignant

2 adj · kind, gentle, and friendly. benignant

Opposites

malign

Word family

Forms benignerbenignest

Derived forms benignancybenignant benignity benignlybenignnessnonbenignunbenign

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

benign tumor
an abnormal growth of tissue that is not cancer

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English benigne, benygne, from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus (“kind, good”), from bene (“well”) + genus (“origin, kind”). Compare malign.

benigne Middle English benignus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# benign

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /bɪˈnɑen/
**IPA (UK):** /bɪˈnaɪn/
**Frequency rank:** 17450

## Meanings
1. Not harmful or dangerous, especially describing a tumour that is not cancerous.
2. Kind, gentle, and friendly.
3. Pleasant and favourable; not causing harm.

## Examples
- The doctor confirmed that the lump was benign.
- The old man gave the children a benign smile.
- The new policy created a benign environment for small businesses.

## Antonyms
- malign

## Derived Forms
- benignancy
- benignant
- benignity
- benignly
- benignness
- nonbenign
- unbenign

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: benigne
- Root: benignus

## Etymology
From Middle English benigne, benygne, from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus (“kind, good”), from bene (“well”) + genus (“origin, kind”). Compare malign.

## AI Etymology
Benign is from Middle English benigne, benygne, from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus (“kind, good”), from bene (“well”) + genus (“origin, kind”). Compare malign. In present-day use, it can mean not harmful or dangerous, especially describing a tumour that is not cancerous, or kind, gentle, and friendly. Derived formations include benignancy, benignant, benignity, benignly, and benignness.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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