metabolic

adjective

met·​a·​bol·​ic ˌme-tə-ˈbä-lik 

: of, relating to, or based on metabolism

metabolically

ˌme-tə-ˈbä-li-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of metabolic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One study from 2021 found that postmenopausal PCOS patients still had clear hormonal and metabolic markers of the condition. —Sam Manzella, Flow Space, 2 Sep. 2025

This can improve metabolic health and may help increase weight loss. —Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 26 Aug. 2025

Scientists submerged individual bags of different microplastics and natural surfaces into the water and performed various tests on the resulting biofilms—running analyses on biofilm formation, metabolic activity, antibiotic resistance genes and resistance against three antibiotics. —Marta Zaraska, Scientific American, 26 Aug. 2025

Addressing those lifestyle changes upfront could also prevent weight regain and worsening metabolic health if patients stop taking Wegovy. —Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 25 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German metabolisch, borrowed from Greek metabolikós "changeable, subject to change," from metabolḗ "change, transition" (from metabol-, stem in noun derivation of metabállein "to put into a different position, turn about, change, alter," from meta- meta- + bállein "to reach by throwing, let fly, strike, put, place") + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at devil entry 1

Note: The term was introduced by the German physiologist Theodor Schwann (1810-82) in Die Mikroskopischen Untersuchungen über die Uebereinstimmung in der Struktur und dem Wachsthum der Thiere und Pflanzen (Berlin, 1839), p. 229: "Die Frage über die Grundkraft der Organismen reducirt sich also auf die Frage über die Grundkräfte der einzelnen Zellen. Wir müssen nun die allgemeinen Erscheinungen der Zellenbildung betrachten, um zu finden, welche Kräfte man zur Erklärung derselben in den Zellen voraussetzen muss. Diese Erscheinungen lassen sich unter zwei natürlichen Gruppen bringen: Erstens Erscheinungen, die sich auf die Zusammenfügung der Moleküle zu einer Zelle beziehn; man kann sie die plastischen Erscheinungen der Zellen nennen; zweitens Erscheinungen, die sich auf chemische Veränderungen, sowohl der Bestandtheile der Zelle selbst, als des umgebenden Cytoblastems beziehn; diese kann man metabolische Erscheinungen nennen (τὸ μεταβολικὸν [sic] was Umwandlung hervorzubringen oder zu erleiden geneigt ist)." — "The question, then, as to the fundamental powers of organized bodies resolves itself into that of the fundamental powers of the individual cells. We must now consider the general phenomena attending the formation of cells, in order to discover what powers may be presumed to exist in the cells to explain them. These phenomena may be arranged in two natural groups: first, those which relate to the combination of the molecules to form a cell, and which may be denominated the plastic phenomena of the cells; secondly, those which result from chemical changes either in the component particles of the cell itself, or in the surrounding cytoblastema [fluid held to be the formative substance from which cells arise], and which may be called metabolic phenomena (tò metabolikòn, implying that which is liable to occasion or to suffer change)." (Microscopical Researches into the Accordance in the Structure and Growth of Animals and Plants, translator Henry Smith, London, 1847).

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing metabolic

• basal metabolic rate
• metabolic syndrome

Rhymes for metabolic

• alcoholic
• anabolic
• apostolic
• catabolic
• cytosolic
• diabolic
• diastolic
• ethanolic
• hyperbolic
• melancholic
• methanolic
• parabolic

Kids Definition

metabolic

adjective

met·​a·​bol·​ic ˌmet-ə-ˈbäl-ik 

: of, relating to, or based on metabolism

metabolic activity

a metabolic disorder

metabolically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

metabolic

adjective

met·​a·​bol·​ic ˌmet-ə-ˈbäl-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or based on metabolism

2

: vegetative sense 1a(2)

—used especially of a cell nucleus that is not dividing

metabolically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb