biological

1 of 2

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

biological

2 of 2

noun

bi·​o·​log·​i·​cal ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

variant of biologic

: a biological product (such as a vaccine or blood serum) used in medicine

Synonyms of biological

Adjective

• birth
• natural
• legitimate

Examples of biological in a Sentence

Adjective

the rights of the biological father in this case

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Carrie Esopenko, co-director of the TBI and Concussion Center and also part of the research group, says the research is still at the early stages of validating the biological mechanisms. — Mirin Fader, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

The distinction matters because older Claude models showed limited ability to support sophisticated biological research. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026

Before Darwin, much biological observation was done according to a taxonomy created by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, which organized species according to the hierarchical order in which they had been created by God. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

The lab's tasks encompass sample sterilization, unsealing, processing and biological risk assessment. — Leonard David, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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

• illogical
• zoological
• aetiological
• anthropological
• archaeological
• archeological
• axiological
• climatological
• deontological
• dermatological
• eschatological
• etiological

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