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 of biological

• birth
• natural
• legitimate

Examples of biological in a Sentence

the rights of the biological father in this case

Recent Examples on the Web

In a phone interview with Sportico, Jordan’s maternal grandmother Peggy Pondexter confirmed that Jenkins is Jordan’s biological father. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 12 Dec. 2025

Because acoustic radiation pressure depends on sound rather than magnetism or light, the method can be used on a wide range of materials like liquids, powders, biological tissues or even fragile solids. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025

Future samples will likely contain mixtures of organics from multiple sources, some biological and some not. —Amirali Aghazadeh, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025

For instance, several model developers reported over the summer that frontier AI systems had crossed new thresholds concerning biological risks. —Yoshua Bengio, Time, 11 Dec. 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