Main Entry:

ma·lig·nant

Pronunciation:

\mə-ˈlig-nənt\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Late Latin malignant-, malignans, present participle of malignari

Date:

circa 1545

1 aobsolete : malcontent, disaffected b: evil in nature, influence, or effect : injurious c: passionately and relentlessly malevolent : aggressively malicious2: tending to produce death or deterioration <malignant malaria> ; especially : tending to infiltrate, metastasize, and terminate fatally <a malignant tumor>

— ma·lig·nant·ly adverb