benign
Translation
benign, harmless, gentle, kind
Examples
The tumor was benign, not cancerous.
The tumour was benign, not cancerous.
He has a benign and friendly manner.
He has a benign and friendly manner.
Grammar Patterns
((noun)) (medical) not harmful. The doctor said the growth was benign.
((noun)) gentle and kind. She has a benign smile.
Similar Words
Synonyms: harmless, gentle, kind; Antonyms: malignant, harmful
Etymology
From Latin 'benignus', from 'bene' (well) + 'gignere' (to beget), meaning 'of a good kind'.
Memory Tips
In medicine, it's the opposite of 'malignant'. Remember that 'be nice' sounds a bit like 'benign'.