biological

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

Synonyms

• birth
• consanguineous
• natural

Examples of biological in a Sentence

the rights of the biological father in this case

Recent Examples on the Web

But one of the competitors looking to take the tiara from Hudson will not even be a biological female. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025

This has been welcomed by those who think biological males in sport risk the safety of women and girls and place them at a competitive disadvantage. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 2 May 2025

While biological classification works differently now, Linnaeus’s categories and naming system have had lasting influence. —Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 2 May 2025

Clarissa Anderson, a biological oceanographer and harmful algal bloom expert at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, said some animals are testing positive for domoic acid and for PSP, which have some overlapping symptoms. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

• analogical
• astrological
• christological
• chronological
• cosmological
• cytological
• dialogical
• ecological
• ethnological
• ethological
• geological
• histological

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