Malignant
Describing a tumor or growth that is cancerous—invasive, capable of spreading to other tissues (metastasizing), and potentially lethal. Contrasts with benign growths that remain localized.
Biological Context
Malignant cells have lost normal growth controls: they ignore contact inhibition, evade immune detection, and can invade surrounding tissues. They develop the ability to metastasize—breaking off and establishing secondary tumors in distant organs via blood or lymph. Malignancy is characterized by uncontrolled growth, loss of differentiation, and spread beyond the original site.
Business Application
Malignant growth in organizations: expansion that ignores feedback, invades adjacent functions without coordination, and spreads resources diffusely without strategic purpose. Malignant business units consume resources while damaging the organization's overall health. The key diagnostic: does growth respond to stop signals, or does it continue regardless of feedback?