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
Unlike in year's past, where there have been multiple major rule shifts that have dramatically altered the way the sport can be played, this year's set of rules seems benign.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Usually, these mistakes are benign or even harmful for the virus, but occasionally, there’s a genetic change that helps the virus become better at infecting cells.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2025
Hawkins makes this seem like a monumental spew of words rather than benign chitchat.
—Matthew Schnipper, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2025
These growths are usually benign (not cancerous) and may be asymptomatic or cause symptoms such as bleeding between menstrual periods.2
Uterine polyps: Polyps are overgrowths of the inner lining of the uterus.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for benign 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Todd Boss, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Usually, these mistakes are benign or even harmful for the virus, but occasionally, there’s a genetic change that helps the virus become better at infecting cells.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2025
Hawkins makes this seem like a monumental spew of words rather than benign chitchat.
—Matthew Schnipper, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2025
These growths are usually benign (not cancerous) and may be asymptomatic or cause symptoms such as bleeding between menstrual periods.2
Uterine polyps: Polyps are overgrowths of the inner lining of the uterus.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for benign
Dictionary Entries Near benign
Cite this Entry
“Benign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benign. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share