benign
Meaning of benign: Not cancerous; often used for a growth that does not invade nearby tissue or spread distantly.
Definition of benign
Benign describes a condition, tumor, or process that is not malignant. A benign tumor generally remains localized and does not metastasize, though its size or location can still cause significant health problems.
Also known as
noncancerousnonmalignant
Used in a sentence
Pathology confirmed that the removed mass was benign.
Good to know
Benign does not always mean harmless; clinical impact depends on the specific condition and location.
Word origin
Where “benign” comes from
From Latin benignus, meaning “kindly” or “favorable.”