benign

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 5, 2025, is "benign," an adjective that describes something that does not cause harm or damage. In medical contexts, "benign" is used to describe a condition that does not threaten life or health, such as a benign tumor. The word can also mean "mild and pleasant," as in describing weather conditions, or "showing kindness and gentleness," as in describing someone's outlook. The word "benign" is used to describe conditions that are inconvenient but ultimately harmless. An example of this usage is in a project that required managing some inconvenient but ultimately benign conditions. The word "benign" has been used in various contexts, including a BBC article discussing the impact of tourism on local communities. In this article, the co-founder of a travel agency notes that the era of innocent tourism, where tourism was seen as a benign force, has ended. The word "benign" has its roots in the Latin adjective "benignus," which was formed from "bene," meaning "well," and "gignere," meaning "to beget." The meanings of "benign" range from describing an absence of danger or harm to that which shows kindness or is gracious or wholesome. The word "benign" shares ancestry with other English words such as "genius," "germ," and "kin."