biological

adjective

bi·​o·​log·​i·​cal ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

variants or less commonly biologic

ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-jik 

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 

adverb

Synonyms

• birth
• consanguineous
• natural

Examples of biological in a Sentence

the rights of the biological father in this case

Recent Examples on the Web

Here's what to know - Common daily vitamin could slow biological aging, study suggests - Scientists can detect junk food in blood and urine tests (iStock) MORE IN HEALTH PARADISE PLAGUED – An American honeymoon hotspot was hit by a highly contagious illness, health officials warn. —Staff, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025

This biological response worked great for escaping predators. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025

This is in part because your psychological, behavioral and biological responses to everyday stressful events are closely intertwined, and each can amplify and interact with the other. —Jennifer E. Graham-Engeland, The Conversation, 28 May 2025

Under the change, any biological female athlete who narrowly missed the automatic qualifying mark for the state meet—but did not meet the at-large standard—will now be invited to participate. —Shane Croucher gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing biological

• biological clock
• biological control
• biological oxygen demand
• biological parent
• biological warfare
• biological weapon
• non-biological

Rhymes for biological

• analogical
• astrological
• christological
• chronological
• cosmological
• cytological
• dialogical
• ecological
• ethnological
• ethological
• geological
• histological

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 

adverb