benign definition | Dictionary.com

be⋅nign

[bi-nahyn]

–adjective

1.	having a kindly disposition; gracious: a benign king.

2.	showing or expressive of gentleness or kindness: a benign smile.

3.	favorable; propitious: a series of benign omens and configurations in the heavens.

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

5.	Pathology. not malignant; self-limiting.

Origin:
1275–1325; ME benigne < AF, OF benigne (fem.), benin (masc.) < L benignus kind, generous, equiv. to beni-, comb. form of bonus good (see bene- ) + -gnus, deriv. of the base of gignere to beget (see genitor, genus ), hence, perh., “good by nature”; cf. malign

Related forms:

be⋅nign⋅ly, adverb

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

Antonyms:
3. sinister.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To benign

be·nign (bĭ-nīn')

adj.

Of a kind and gentle disposition.
Showing gentleness and mildness. See Synonyms at kind¹.
Tending to exert a beneficial influence; favorable: a policy with benign consequences for the economy. See Synonyms at favorable.
Having little or no detrimental effect; harmless: a chemical additive that is environmentally benign.
Medicine Of no danger to health; not recurrent or progressive; not malignant: a benign tumor.

[Middle English benigne, from Old French, from Latin benignus; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]
be·nign'ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Benign

Be*nign"\, a. [OE. benigne, bening, OF. benigne, F. b['e]nin, fem. b['e]nigne, fr. L. benignus, contr. from benigenus; bonus good + root of genus kind. See Bounty, and Genus.]

1. Of a kind or gentle disposition; gracious; generous; favorable; benignant.

Creator bounteous and benign. --Milton.

2. Exhibiting or manifesting kindness, gentleness, favor, etc.; mild; kindly; salutary; wholesome.

Kind influences and benign aspects. --South.

3. Of a mild type or character; as, a benign disease.

Syn: Kind; propitious; bland; genial; salubrious; favorable salutary; gracious; liberal.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : benign

Spanish: benigno, bondadoso,

German: gütig,

Japanese: 優しい

More Translations »

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.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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benign

c.1320, from O.Fr. benigne, from L. benignus "good, kind," lit. "well born," from bene "well" + gignere "to bear, beget," from genus "birth" (see genus). For similar sense evolution, see gentle, kind, generous.

Main Entry: be·nign
Pronunciation: bi-'nIn
Function: adjective
1 : of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life<benign malaria> benign tumor> —compare MALIGNANT 1
2 : having a goodprognosis : responding favorably to treatment benign psychosis>

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

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

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