# benign

/bɪˈnaɪn/ (US) · /bɪnˈaɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/benign
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. kind and gentle

adjective · CEFR B2

kind, gentle, and not likely to hurt anyone.

For teachers: of a mild, kind, or gentle disposition; showing a lack of hostility.

- The old man had a benign smile that made the children feel safe.
- Despite his imposing physical presence, the professor possessed a benign temperament that encouraged even the most timid students to participate in class discussions.

### 2. not cancerous

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

not dangerous to your health; specifically, a growth that is not cancer.

For teachers: not malignant; describing a tumour or condition that does not invade surrounding tissue or spread throughout the body.

- The doctor called with the good news that the lump was benign.
- The biopsy results confirmed that the growth was benign, significantly relieving the patient's anxiety regarding the necessity of aggressive chemotherapy.

Usage: Usually used to describe tumours, growths, or test results.

### 3. favourable or mild

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

mild and pleasant, especially when talking about weather or effects.

For teachers: having a kindly or favourable effect; mild in influence or climate.

- The island enjoys a benign climate with warm sun and gentle breezes.
- Economists argued that the benign market conditions of the previous decade were unlikely to persist in the face of rising interest rates.

### 4. environmentally friendly

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

not harmful to the environment.

For teachers: having little or no detrimental impact on the natural environment.

- The company is looking for a more benign way to dispose of its waste.
- The research team focused on developing environmentally benign polymers that would degrade naturally without releasing toxic by-products into the soil.

Usage: Often appears in the compound 'environmentally benign'.

## Examples

- The doctor said the lump was benign.
- The scan confirmed the growth was benign, so no surgery was needed.
- Despite its aggressive appearance, the tumour proved benign, sparing the patient from the rigours of chemotherapy and allowing for a swift recovery.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.