be·nign 
/bɪˈnaɪn/ adjective
/bɪˈnaɪn/ adjective 1 medical a : not causing death or serious injury
▪ a benign infection/disease
b : without cancer : not cancerous
▪ benign brain tumors ▪ We were happy to hear that the tumor was benign. — opposite malignant 2 : not causing harm or damage
▪ This chemical is environmentally benign. [=it does not hurt the environment] ▪ He has a benign [=harmless] habit of biting his fingernails. 3 [more benign; most benign] : mild and pleasant
▪ benign [=favorable] weather conditions ▪ a benign climate 4 [more benign; most benign] : gentle and kind
▪ a friendly, benign teacher 5 [more benign; most benign] : having or showing a belief that nothing bad will happen
▪ She takes a benign view of her husband's spending habits. [=she does not worry about her husband's spending habits]
▪ a benign infection/disease
b : without cancer : not cancerous
▪ benign brain tumors ▪ We were happy to hear that the tumor was benign. — opposite malignant
▪ This chemical is environmentally benign. [=it does not hurt the environment] ▪ He has a benign [=harmless] habit of biting his fingernails.
▪ benign [=favorable] weather conditions ▪ a benign climate
▪ a friendly, benign teacher
▪ She takes a benign view of her husband's spending habits. [=she does not worry about her husband's spending habits]
— be·nign·ly adverb
▪ He smiled benignly at his students.
▪ He smiled benignly at his students.
