benign
adjective/bɪˈnaɪn/
/bɪˈnaɪn/
- (formal) (of people) kind and gentle; not hurting anybody
- You would never have guessed his intentions from the benign expression on his face.
Extra ExamplesTopics Personal qualitiesc2- He thought of himself as a benign leader.
- Her face was gentle and benign.
- The island's inhabitants at first thought European traders were completely benign.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- fairly
- rather
- relatively
- …
- not causing damage or harm
- The industry's environmental impact is relatively benign, even positive.
- environmentally benign cleaning products
- Many parents adopt a policy of benign neglect —making sure children are fed and clothed and attending school, but leaving them to entertain themselves out of school.
- (medical) (of tumours growing in the body) not dangerous or likely to cause death
- She is recovering after surgery to remove a benign tumour.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus, probably from bene ‘well’ + -genus ‘-born’. Compare with gentle.
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benign