What Is the Word for Non Cancerous
- Top Definitions
- Synonyms
- Quiz
- Related Content
- Benign Vs. Malignant
- Examples
- British
- Medical
- Scientific
- Cultural
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective
having a kindly disposition; gracious: a benign king.
showing or expressive of gentleness or kindness: a benign smile.
favorable; propitious: a series of benign omens and configurations in the heavens.
(of weather) salubrious; healthful; pleasant or beneficial.
Pathology. not malignant; self-limiting.
QUIZ
ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?
We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.
Which of the following words describes "sky blue"?
Origin of benign
1275–1325; Middle English benigne<Anglo-French, Old French benigne (feminine), benin (masculine) <Latin benignus kind, generous, equivalent to beni-, combining form of bonus good (see bene-) + -gnus, derivative of the base of gignere to beget (see genitor, genus), hence, perhaps, "good by nature"; cf. malign
OTHER WORDS FROM benign
be·nign·ly, adverb su·per·be·nign, adjective su·per·be·nign·ly, adverb un·be·nign, adjective
un·be·nign·ly, adverb
Words nearby benign
Ben Hur, Beni, Benicia, Benidorm, benighted, benign, benignant, benign hypertension, benign inoculation lymphoreticulosis, benignity, benign juvenile melanoma
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
BENIGN VS. MALIGNANT
What's the difference between benign and malignant?
In a medical context, the word benign is used to describe masses or tumors that are not cancerous—those that do not spread disease to other parts of the body. The word malignant is the opposite—it's used to describe harmful masses or tumors that are cancerous and that grow and spread disease.
Both words are sometimes also used in general ways. Benign can mean kind, favorable, or gracious, while malignant can mean harmful or intended or intending to cause harm.
The best clue to help remember their meanings is the prefix mal-, which means "bad" and shows up in a lot of other negative words, such as malfunction, malpractice, malicious, and maleficent.
Here's an example of benign and malignant used correctly in the same sentence.
Example: She was afraid the lump was a malignant tumor, but it turned out to be a benign cyst—totally harmless.
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between benign and malignant.
Quiz yourself on benign vs. malignant!
Should benign or malignant be used in the following sentence?
I can assure you that my intentions are completely _____—I mean no harm.
How to use benign in a sentence
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It is possible that life may have gained a foothold, given the evidence that the planet once had a much more benign environment.
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My two personal oncology physicians were the ones who advised a conservative strategy of monitoring those nodules in my neck, which could prove to be benign.
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As the election approaches, the building trend of employee activism against employers seems to be taking a benign turn—but don't imagine that America's employers and workers are now united in peace and love.
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These other ingredients, which are combined with the therapeutic one, are often sourced from around the world before landing in your medicine cabinet and are not always benign.
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Sometimes doctors inject patients with benign chemicals that enhance the contrast visible in the image.
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I always saw the horrific side of this seemingly benign environment.
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Unstoppable or not, John H has seen little in his 38 years to persuade him progress is benign.
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It is not some benign magical sleep as shown on TV, where people wake up a year later and are instantly back to normal.
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Eric lobbies for an industry of benign usefulness, non-partisan in nature, and over which no cloud of serious controversy looms.
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To use a relatively benign example, they are to the Pentagon what Silicon Valley startups were to Eastman Kodak.
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Benign respdit pater ipse Membertou neophytos se esse, verum imperarem; in mea potestate esse omnia.
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Ab eo igitur tpore Patres nostros perhumaniter habuit, atque honorific in omnibus, mensque benign accepit.
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He surveyed the crowd in the court-room with calm indifference, and seldom glanced at the gray-bearded, benign-looking judge.
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"No passion, Colombaik," put in the benign Joan, again interrupting the impetuous young man.
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He looked very benign as he quoted these verses in the pulpit on Sunday morning, with a half smile, as of pleased meditation.
British Dictionary definitions for benign
adjective
showing kindliness; genial
(of soil, climate, etc) mild; gentle
favourable; propitious
pathol (of a tumour, etc) not threatening to life or health; not malignant
Derived forms of benign
benignly, adverb
Word Origin for benign
C14: from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus, from bene well + gignere to produce
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for benign
adj.
Of no danger to health, especially relating to a tumorous growth; not malignant.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for benign
Not life-threatening or severe, and likely to respond to treatment, as a tumor that is not malignant. Compare malignant.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for benign
A descriptive term for conditions that present no danger to life or well-being. Benign is the opposite of malignant.
notes for benign
The term benign is used when describing tumors or growths that do not threaten the health of an individual.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
What Is the Word for Non Cancerous
Source: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/benign