Word meaning

benign

adjective · bih-NINE

What does benign mean?

Benign means gentle and kind; also, not harmful (as in a benign tumor).

Benign in a sentence

“The doctor said the lump was benign, and we all exhaled.”

Synonyms for benign

  • harmless
  • gentle
  • kindly

Where does benign come from?

From Latin benignus, "kind, generous."

How to remember benign

  • Say it out loud a few times: bih-NINE.
  • Write one sentence of your own using benign, about something that happened to you today.
  • Quiz yourself tomorrow, in three days, and next week. Spaced reviews are what make new words stick.

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