benign
Benign (adjective) means Kind, gentle, and well-meaning. Example: “Her benign smile put the nervous students at ease.”
How to use benign
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHarmless and gentle — used for kindly people, mild situations, and, in medicine, non-cancerous growths.
The medical opposite of benign is malignant, not "malign" — malign is a different (though related) word meaning to speak badly of someone.
Word forms
benigner comparative, more benign comparative, benignest superlative, most benign superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ smile put the nervous students at ease.
Etymology
From Old French benigne, from Latin benignus, combining bene ("well") and genus ("kind, sort") — literally "of good nature."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “benign” mean?
The word “benign” means kind, gentle, and well-meaning. In plain terms, harmless and gentle — used for kindly people, mild situations, and, in medicine, non-cancerous growths.
How do you pronounce “benign”?
“Benign” is pronounced bih-NYN (/bɪˈnaɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “benign” in a sentence?
Here is “benign” used in a sentence: “Her benign smile put the nervous students at ease.”
What is the opposite of “benign”?
The opposite of “benign” — its antonyms — is malign.
What part of speech is “benign”?
“Benign” is an adjective.
Where does the word “benign” come from?
The word “benign” comes from Latin. From Old French benigne, from Latin benignus, combining bene ("well") and genus ("kind, sort") — literally "of good nature.".
Is “benign” a common word?
“Benign” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “benign” have?
“Benign” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: kind, gentle, and well-meaning.