The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. malignant
A descriptive term for things or conditions that threaten life or well-being. Malignant is the opposite of benign . 1 ‡ The term malignant is used in describing cancerous tumors (see cancer ) because such growths are a threat to the health of the individual. 2 ‡ The term is often used in a general way to denote something that is both destructive and fast growing: “The malignant growth of the suburbs is destroying the landscape.” 3
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
