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

In Burkina Faso so far, molecular biologists haven’t detected genetic mutations at the level that would make rapid diagnostic tests ineffective. — Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

The terminal bonds at the absolute ends of the molecular chains would shatter first. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026

In 2018, Picard and his colleagues released the mitochondrial health index — a molecular measure of mitochondria’s capacity to transform energy, calculated by extracting the organelles from a tissue sample and quantifying their contents. — Rachel Nuwer, Quanta Magazine, 17 July 2026

The molecular cloud and its dark lanes of gas and dust, the raw materials for star construction, are at the left of the DECam image. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 17 July 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