Definition of "benign" []

• Of a kind and gentle disposition. (adjective)
• Showing gentleness and mildness. See Synonyms at kind1. (adjective)
• Tending to exert a beneficial influence; favorable: a policy with benign consequences for the economy. See Synonyms at favorable. (adjective)
• Having little or no detrimental effect; harmless: a chemical additive that is environmentally benign. (adjective)
• Medicine Of no danger to health; not recurrent or progressive; not malignant: a benign tumor. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "‡ The term benign is used when describing tumors or growths that do not threaten the health of an individual."
• "So to use your term benign, I think it's certainly less promotional."
• "As a result, he poured all of that exposition into "I.O.U.," which he called the "benign tumor" that came from "Capital.""