English Explanatory Dictionary

benign

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Kind; gentle; mild.
  2. Mild and favorable.
  3. Not harmful to the environment.
  4. Not posing any serious threat to health; not particularly aggressive or recurrent.

Pronunciation

/bɪˈnaɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-benign.wav /bɪˈnɑen/

Word forms

benign benigner more benign benignest most benign

Etymology

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

Synonyms

non-malignant

Antonyms

malign malignant

Derived words

benignancy benignant benignity benignly benign neglect benignness benign paroxysmal positional vertigo benign prostate enlargement benign prostatic hyperplasia nonbenign unbenign
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