1
a
: of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life
especially
: not becoming cancerous
a benign lung tumor
b
: having no significant effect : harmless
environmentally benign
2
: of a gentle disposition : gracious
a benign teacher
Synonyms
Examples of benign in a Sentence
… substituting such benign power sources as the hybrid, the fuel cell, and the electric motor in place of … the internal-combustion engine.
—
Brock Yates, Car and Driver, May 2000
Rather than a benign fairytale creature that delivers babies, the marabou stork is an ugly, viciously predatory African bird that preys on flamingos …
—James Polk, New York Times Book Review, 11 Feb. 1996
… her pulled-back black hair had gone gray in strange distinct bands, but she seemed much as he remembered her, solid and energetic, with a certain benign defiance.
—John Updike, New Yorker, 23 May 1988
When she chose to smile on me, I always wanted to thank her. The action was so graceful and inclusively benign.
—Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969
We were happy to hear that the tumor was benign.
around campus he's known as a real character, but one whose eccentricities are entirely benign
Brock Yates, Car and Driver, May 2000
Rather than a benign fairytale creature that delivers babies, the marabou stork is an ugly, viciously predatory African bird that preys on flamingos …
—James Polk, New York Times Book Review, 11 Feb. 1996
… her pulled-back black hair had gone gray in strange distinct bands, but she seemed much as he remembered her, solid and energetic, with a certain benign defiance.
—John Updike, New Yorker, 23 May 1988
When she chose to smile on me, I always wanted to thank her. The action was so graceful and inclusively benign.
—Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969
We were happy to hear that the tumor was benign.
around campus he's known as a real character, but one whose eccentricities are entirely benign
Recent Examples on the Web
While the weather could play a role in this election, the forecast looks rather benign in much of the country on Nov. 5.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024
These seizures are sometimes called benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (stomach flu), and rotavirus is a common cause of these symptoms.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 23 Oct. 2024
This chemistry is benign to more complex organisms and will quickly biodegrade into inert ingredients.
—Steven Savage, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Home to a Romanian-speaking majority and large Russian-speaking minority, many Moldovans had long viewed Russia as a benign big brother.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for benign 
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024
These seizures are sometimes called benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (stomach flu), and rotavirus is a common cause of these symptoms.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 23 Oct. 2024
This chemistry is benign to more complex organisms and will quickly biodegrade into inert ingredients.
—Steven Savage, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Home to a Romanian-speaking majority and large Russian-speaking minority, many Moldovans had long viewed Russia as a benign big brother.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for benign
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'benign.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near benign
Cite this Entry
“Benign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benign. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
benign
adjective
be·nign
bi-ˈnīn 
1
: of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life
benign malaria
a benign liver cyst
2
: having a good prognosis : responding favorably to treatment
a benign psychosis
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