ecological

adjective

eco·​log·​i·​cal ˌē-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl  ˌe-kə- 

variants or less commonly ecologic

ˌē-kə-ˈlä-jik 

ˌe-kə-

1

: of or relating to the science of ecology

ecological studies

2

: of or relating to the environments of living things or to the relationships between living things and their environments

The ecological effects of the turf monoculture become even more troubling as large tracts, such as golf courses, displace whole ecosystems in a single stroke.

—Adelheid Fischer

In every community in nature, each type of organism has its own specialized role to play in what is called an ecological niche.

—William Threlfall

Rush was scoffing at concerns that the schools of sharks gathering off the coast of Florida might be an indication of some harmful ecological change.

—Al Franken

The chief of a new environmental protection committee, Fyodor Morgun, blamed the "ill-considered drive to build gigantic plants" for a Pandora's box of ecological problems, including air and water pollution.

—William R. Doerner et al.

3

: of or relating to human ecology

Ecological data suggest that in rural areas the availability of family physicians is associated with reduced mortality rate after adjustment for demographic and economic factors.

—Peter Franks et al.

ecologically

ˌē-kə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

ˌe-kə-

adverb

… an ecologically rich river basin …

—Cultural Survival Quarterly

Sustainable agricultural practices involve making choices that are not only ecologically sound but also economically viable and socially just.

—Karin Springen

Examples of ecological in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news Bat populations in Colorado may be headed for a decline that could cause ecological disruptions across the state. —Tanya Dewey, Discover Magazine, 1 June 2024

Reduces overland or maritime transportation of oils helps prevent soil contamination, air pollution from gas emissions, and ecological seas contamination. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 May 2024

Earlier, a biologist who was interested in plants had taken a photo of an unidentified butterfly west of Quito and posted the picture on the ecological site iNaturalist, according to a study published May 20 in the journal Zootaxa. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 29 May 2024

The basic units of ecological theory are models, simplified representations of natural relationships that are expressed using math. —Ian Rose, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 2