benign

/bɪˈnaɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /bɪˈnaɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /bi-ˈnīn/ (ame, mw)

benign — adjective

1. Describing a person who is friendly, gentle, and treats others with warmth, ofte

1.形容詞C1
釋義

Describing a person who is friendly, gentle, and treats others with warmth, often with a calm or fatherly air.

例句

Mr. Alvarez gave the children a benign smile as they crowded into his bookshop.

attributive: a benign smile / look / expression

The old judge had a benign manner that put nervous witnesses at ease.

collocation: benign manner / presence

同義詞
  • kindly

    very close in meaning; slightly warmer and less formal

  • gentle

    focuses on softness of action; 'benign' adds an air of goodwill

  • gracious

    stresses polite generosity, often toward someone of lower rank

反義詞
  • hostile

    openly unfriendly or aggressive

  • stern

    harsh and serious in manner, the opposite of a benign expression

用法筆記

Often attributive before nouns describing facial expression, manner, or presence (smile, look, gaze, expression). Tends to suggest a calm, slightly distant warmth — not the same lively friendliness as 'kind' or 'warm'.

常見錯誤

❌My friend gave me a benign hug after I won.
✅My friend gave me a warm hug after I won.
💡'benign' suggests calm, gentle goodwill, not enthusiastic affection between equals.

2. Having no power to cause damage, suffering, or trouble — for example, a mild cli

2.形容詞C1
釋義

Having no power to cause damage, suffering, or trouble — for example, a mild climate, a harmless chemical, or a government policy that produces no bad effects.

例句

The island enjoys a benign climate, with warm days and cool sea breezes all year.

collocation: benign climate / weather / environment

What seemed like a benign software update wiped half the photos from Xiomara's phone.

contrast pattern: seemingly benign … but harmful

同義詞
  • harmless

    plainer everyday word; 'benign' is more formal

  • innocuous

    very close; stresses that something looks dangerous but isn't

  • favorable

    stronger — actively helpful, not just non-harmful

反義詞
  • harmful

    actively causes damage

  • hostile

    of an environment or climate, actively unfriendly to life

用法筆記

Frequently modified by 'seemingly', 'apparently', or 'completely' to set up a contrast with hidden danger. Subjects are typically things that could plausibly cause harm (climate, chemical, policy, software, organism), so 'benign' specifically denies that potential.

常見錯誤

❌The rock on the table is benign.
✅The rock on the table is harmless.
💡'benign' is reserved for things that might reasonably be expected to cause harm; an ordinary rock isn't a candidate.

3. Used about a lump or growth in the body to say that it is non-cancerous, will no

3.形容詞C1
釋義

Used about a lump or growth in the body to say that it is non-cancerous, will not spread, and poses no real threat to the patient's life.

例句

After a week of waiting, the doctor told Renata the lump in her breast was benign.

predicative: the [tumor / lump / growth] is benign

Most moles on the skin are benign and never need to be removed.

collocation: benign mole / cyst / lesion

同義詞
  • non-cancerous

    plain medical equivalent; preferred when talking to patients

  • non-malignant

    technical; emphasises the contrast with malignant tumors

反義詞
  • malignant

    the standard medical opposite — cancerous and likely to spread

  • cancerous

    everyday opposite

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2: this is the medical use, restricted to growths, tumors, lesions, cysts, or moles. Speakers often pair it with relief — 'turned out to be benign', 'thankfully benign'. The opposite is 'malignant', not 'harmful'.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor said my cold is benign.
✅The doctor said my cold is mild.
💡'benign' in medicine refers to growths, not infections or symptoms.
❌The benign of the tumor was a relief.
✅The benign nature of the tumor was a relief.
💡'benign' is an adjective only; it cannot be used as a noun.