WORD OF THE DAY: BENIGN
adjective | bih-NYNE
What It Means
Benign describes something that does not cause harm or damage. In medical contexts it is used to describe something that does not threaten life or health (as in “a benign tumour”). Additional meanings include “mild and pleasant” (as in “benign weather conditions”) and “showing kindness and gentleness” (as in “a benign outlook”).
// The project required that we manage some inconvenient but ultimately benign conditions.
Examples of BENIGN
“‘The era of innocent tourism—where it was seen as a benign and universally positive force—ended around 2015,’ says Justin Francis, co-founder of Responsible Travel, a UK-based travel agency specialising in ethical tourism. ‘In Europe and America, protests against overtourism are growing. People are realising their vacations can leave lasting impacts on others’ homes.'” — Tarang Mohnot, BBC, 18 Feb. 2025.
Did You Know?
Benign traces back to the Latin adjective benignus, which was formed from bene, meaning “well,” and the verb gignere, “to beget”—that is, “to produce or create.” Gignere is also the root of such English words as genius and germ, and even shares distant ancestry with kin. The meanings of benign range from describing an absence of danger or harm to that which shows kindness or is gracious or wholesome.
Merriam Webster Dictionary
