molecular

adjective

mo·​lec·​u·​lar mə-ˈle-kyə-lər 

1

: of, relating to, consisting of, or produced by molecules

molecular oxygen

2

: of or relating to individual or small components

a molecular view of the American Civil War

molecularly

mə-ˈle-kyə-lər-lē 

adverb

Examples of molecular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anthropic’s biology research team used Claude throughout the investigation, from identifying promising proteins to reconstructing their molecular architecture. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026

In the future, more molecular clues could help researchers investigate how dinosaurs transported oxygen through their bodies, how their tissues functioned and how their biology compared with that of animals alive today. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026

For the past few years, Dominic Stoop, a fertility specialist, and Björn Heindryckx, a reproductive geneticist, have been tracking down the molecular culprits behind the most difficult-to-treat infertility cases. — Megan Molteni, STAT, 3 Nov. 2026

The distribution of damage, the pace of decline, and even the molecular structure of amyloid filaments can vary. — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing molecular

• gram molecular weight
• molecular biology
• molecular chaperone
• molecular formula
• molecular genetics
• molecular mass
• molecular orbital
• molecular sieve
• molecular weight

Rhymes for molecular

• trabecular
• bimolecular
• biomolecular
• intermolecular
• intramolecular
• macromolecular
• monomolecular
• supramolecular
• unimolecular
• secular
• specular

Kids Definition

molecular

adjective

mo·​lec·​u·​lar mə-ˈlek-yə-lər 

: of, relating to, or produced by molecules

Medical Definition

molecular

adjective

mo·​lec·​u·​lar mə-ˈlek-yə-lər 

1

: of, relating to, consisting of, or produced by molecules

molecular oxygen

2

: relating to or emphasizing individual responses or structures of behavior

proceed by more and more detailed analysis to the molecular facts of perception

—G. A. Miller

compare molar entry 3 sense 2

molecularity

-ˌlek-yə-ˈlar-ət-ē 

noun

plural molecularities

molecularly

mə-ˈlek-yə-lər-lē 

adverb