biological

adjective

variants: or less commonly biologic

Updated on: 17 May 2018

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

play \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See biological defined for English-language learners

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Examples of biological in a Sentence

the rights of the biological father in this case

Recent Examples of biological from the Web

Legislation signed into law 20 years ago established a Gulf War service connection for ailments associated with chemical, biological and other toxic agents.

— bill lambrecht, Houston Chronicle, "Veterans Affairs chief’s firing hurt vets’ medical effort," 13 May 2018
Legislation signed into law 20 years ago established a Gulf War service connection for ailments associated with chemical, biological and other toxic agents.

— bill lambrecht, San Antonio Express-News, "Gulf War Illness," 12 May 2018
Inside this fort, which can withstand a nuclear, biological or electromagnetic disaster, scientists are preparing for the worst – and making sure the world is safe.

— trina thompson, Fox News, "Rare look inside Cheyenne Mountain Complex, 'America's fortress'," 11 May 2018
Long eyelashes are in no technical or biological sense a lady thing.

— ashley fetters, The Cut, "What Is the Point of Long Eyelashes?," 30 Apr. 2018
In particular, the orbiter will look for traces of methane in the atmosphere, which could hint at various geological or biological processes.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "This Is the First Color Image From Europe's New Mars Orbiter," 30 Apr. 2018
Atmospheric methane is biological in origin—but some of the biology happened a long time ago.

— The Economist, "Scientists struggle to explain a worrying rise in atmospheric methane," 28 Apr. 2018
Nobody has determined whether this is a biological or sociological difference.

— marissa korbel, Harper's BAZAAR, "Sometimes You Make Your Rapist Breakfast," 25 Apr. 2018
The first paper calls for the pre-conception period to be redefined according to three perspectives: biological, individual and public health.

— jacqueline howard, CNN, "How dad's pre-conception health can affect the baby, too," 16 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biological.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of biological

1818

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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biological Synonyms

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

BIOLOGICAL Defined for English Language Learners

biological

adjective

: of or relating to biology or to life and living things
: related through birth

BIOLOGICAL Defined for Kids

biological

adjective bi·o·log·i·cal \ ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl \

1 : of or relating to biology or to life and living things

biological activity

2 : related by birth

Medical Dictionary

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

play \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

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Examples of biological in a Sentence

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BIOLOGICAL Defined for English Language Learners

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