biological

1 of 2

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

biological

2 of 2

noun

bi·​o·​log·​i·​cal ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

variant of biologic

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

Synonyms of biological

Adjective

• birth
• natural
• legitimate

Examples of biological in a Sentence

Adjective

the rights of the biological father in this case

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

At a Capitol Hill press conference after the hearing, 17-year-old high school volleyball player Briley Lehcner spoke about a biological male having entered her team's locker room. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

The United States will end funding for Zimbabwe’s health programs this month after talks collapsed over demands to share sensitive health data and biological samples. — Farai Mutsaka, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Noun

The three of them—the one biological that is mine and the other two—they’re doing great. — Julie Jordan, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026

The lesson of spindle resilience extends beyond the biological. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 29 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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

• illogical
• zoological
• aetiological
• anthropological
• archaeological
• archeological
• axiological
• climatological
• deontological
• dermatological
• eschatological
• etiological

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