Benign
adjective /bɪˈnaɪn/ — Not harmful or cancerous; mild and favorable.
Definition
In medicine, describing a tumor or condition that is not malignant — not threatening life or likely to spread. More broadly, gentle, kindly, or not harmful in nature.
Beyond the definition
The word 'benign' in a medical context contains a disproportionate amount of relief. It is the opposite of the word that was feared — and the body exhales around it.
Origin & history
From Latin 'benignus' (kind, generous, good-natured); from 'bene' (well) + 'gignere' (to beget). Well-born, naturally good.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The biopsy results showed a benign mass — two weeks of terror ending in two words from the pathologist.
She had lived with the growth for years before having it checked — the benign diagnosis felt like forgiveness.
Not everything needs to be fixed. Sometimes the kindest medical advice is: it's benign, leave it alone.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Benign” when the meaning fits your context: In medicine, describing a tumor or condition that is not malignant — not threatening life or likely to spread. More broadly, gentle, kindly, or not harmful in nature.
Synonyms
non-malignant, harmless, mild, favorable
Antonyms
malignant, harmful, dangerous, cancerous
Related words
Benign vs malignant
Benign describes a growth or condition that is harmless and will not spread to other parts of the body. Malignant refers to dangerous, cancerous cells that have the ability to invade surrounding tissues.
Compare this word
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Growth Without Harm
A small, green shoot grows through a crack in a heavy marble floor near a compass.
The small shoot growing in the stone is persistent but not destructive to the surrounding structure, serving as an analogy for a condition that is not malignant, threatening, or likely to spread in a harmful manner.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Benign" mean?
Benign is adjective meaning: Not harmful or cancerous; mild and favorable.. In medicine, describing a tumor or condition that is not malignant — not threatening life or likely to spread. More broadly, gentle, kindly, or not harmful in nature.
Where does the word "Benign" come from?
From Latin 'benignus' (kind, generous, good-natured); from 'bene' (well) + 'gignere' (to beget). Well-born, naturally good.