[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/benign/)

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# benign

adjective (benign, more benign)

«benign» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Benign means kind, gentle and not harmful. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/benign/#m1)
2. (medicine) A benign lump or tumour is not cancer and does not spread. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/benign/#m2)

### In the lessons

Formal word used in descriptions of people and in medicine: «The doctor said the lump was benign» is good news. In stories, a benign smile is a kind one.

### Examples

- The old man gave a benign smile. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/benign/#x1)
- The doctor said the lump was benign, so we were relieved. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/benign/#x2)
- The weather was benign all week. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/benign/#x3)
- Badger looked at Mole with a benign expression. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/benign/#x4)
- Most spiders in Britain are benign to people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/benign/#x5)
- Her presence seemed to have a benign influence on those there. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/benign/#x6)

### Note

Pronounced «bi-NINE» (the g is silent). Opposite: malignant (harmful; medicine: cancer that spreads).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «benign» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/benign/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«benign» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/benign.html) on Mova free.