ecological

adjective

eco·​log·​i·​cal ˌē-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl  ˌe-kə- 

variants or less commonly ecologic

ˌē-kə-ˈlä-jik 

ˌe-kə-

1

: of or relating to the science of ecology

ecological studies

2

: of or relating to the environments of living things or to the relationships between living things and their environments

The ecological effects of the turf monoculture become even more troubling as large tracts, such as golf courses, displace whole ecosystems in a single stroke.

—Adelheid Fischer

In every community in nature, each type of organism has its own specialized role to play in what is called an ecological niche.

—William Threlfall

Rush was scoffing at concerns that the schools of sharks gathering off the coast of Florida might be an indication of some harmful ecological change.

—Al Franken

The chief of a new environmental protection committee, Fyodor Morgun, blamed the "ill-considered drive to build gigantic plants" for a Pandora's box of ecological problems, including air and water pollution.

—William R. Doerner et al.

3

: of or relating to human ecology

Ecological data suggest that in rural areas the availability of family physicians is associated with reduced mortality rate after adjustment for demographic and economic factors.

—Peter Franks et al.

ecologically

ˌē-kə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

ˌe-kə-

adverb

… an ecologically rich river basin …

—Cultural Survival Quarterly

Sustainable agricultural practices involve making choices that are not only ecologically sound but also economically viable and socially just.

—Karin Springen

Examples of ecological in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The star-nosed mole’s sensory architecture is the product of selection pressure operating in a specific ecological context that has remained largely stable over millions of years. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026

Andrew Whelton, a professor of civil, environmental and ecological engineering at Purdue University in Indiana, said that the EPA analysis was not definitive and that the agency used methods that are designed to assess average risk, but don’t pinpoint particularly hazardous areas. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 20 May 2026

In its review, the wildlife department said that the current boundary configuration was intentionally designed to balance ecological protection with human use, and that existing data do not support claims of enforcement confusion, ecological degradation, or management gaps. —Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 19 May 2026

To survive these transformations, rich states have resorted among other things to the ever greater exploitation, not only of poor states, but also of the human and ecological capital housed within them. —Literary Hub, 18 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for ecological

• astrological
• biological
• christological
• chronological
• cosmological
• cytological
• dialogical
• ethnological
• ethological
• geological
• histological
• hydrological