'malignancy' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'malignantia,' where 'mal-' meant 'bad' and 'gnus' meant 'born.'

'malignantia' transformed into the Old French word 'malignance,' and eventually became the modern English word 'malignancy' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'badly born or evil,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'cancerous growth or malevolence.'