biological

1 of 2

adjective

bi·​o·​log·​i·​cal ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce biological (audio)
variants or less commonly biologic
ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-jik How to pronounce biological (audio)
Synonyms of biologicalnext
1
: of or relating to biology or to life and living processes
2
: used in or produced by applied biology
3
: connected by direct genetic relationship rather than by adoption or marriage
her biological father
biologically
ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce biological (audio)
adverb

biological

2 of 2

noun

bi·​o·​log·​i·​cal ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce biological (audio)

variant of biologic

: a biological product (such as a vaccine or blood serum) used in medicine

Synonyms of biological

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of biological in a Sentence

Adjective the rights of the biological father in this case
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
If physical gestures serve our relatives just fine, why did our own branch of the family tree gradually favor biological changes in our brains and anatomy that permitted our characteristic complexities in language and precision in speech? — Mike McRae 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026 The boy’s biological mother still had not gotten childcare assistance, but Cox had negotiated a deal with a childcare provider to offer a massive discount. — Moriah Balingit, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 These specific biological features influence the rapid uptake, transport, and long-term storage of the substances. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026 Existing Drugs Can Start New Questions A drug developed for one purpose may have chemical or biological properties that eventually attract attention in another field. — Emma Clapp, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for biological

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of biological was in 1818

Phrases Containing biological

Rhymes for biological

See All Rhymes for biological

Browse Nearby Words

biologic
biological
biological anthropology
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Cite this Entry

“Biological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biological. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

biological

adjective
bi·​o·​log·​i·​cal
ˌbī-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants also biologic
-ˈläj-ik
1
: of or relating to biology or to life and living things
2
: connected by a relationship involving heredity rather than by one involving adoption or marriage
his biological father
biologically
-ˈläj-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb

Medical Definition

biological

adjective
variants also biologic
1
: of or relating to biology or to life and living processes
2
: used in or produced by applied biology
3
: related by direct genetic relationship rather than by adoption or marriage
an adoptee who searched for years for her biological parents
biologically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce biological (audio)
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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