benign

The definition of benign is something good, kind or not dangerous.

(adjective)

  1. A non-cancerous tumor is an example of a benign growth.
  2. Earth friendly cleaning products are an example of benign reactions to the environment.

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See benign in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. good-natured; kindly
  2. favorable; beneficial
  3. Med. doing little or no harm; not malignant; specif., not cancerous: benign tumors

Origin: ME & OFr benigne < L benignus, good, lit., well-born < bene, well (cf. sense development of gentle) + genus, birth: see genus

Related Forms:

See benign in American Heritage Dictionary 4

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

Origin:

Origin: Middle English benigne

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin benignus; see genə- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • be·nignˈly adverb

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