Benign

 WORD OF THE DAY

benign / adjective / bih-NYNE

Definition

1a: of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life

1b : not becoming cancerous

1c: having no significant effect 

1d: harmless

2a: of a gentle disposition 

2b: gracious 

3a: showing kindness and gentleness

3b: favorable, wholesome

Examples

“… 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

Did You Know?

Benign comes from Latin benignus, which was formed from bene, meaning "well," and gignere, "to beget." 

Gignere is the root of such English words as genius and germ.