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

By choosing ground and water transportation over short-haul flights, nomads can contribute to reducing the ecological impact of their travels. —William Mullane, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024

Any ecological message-mongering may be subliminal here, and shares screen time with fart jokes and lots of finger-sniffing. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024

Now, the spotlight turns to the engineer who not only understands the intricacies of design and manufacturing but also the broader ecological and socioeconomic context. —Neil D'souza, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

The discovery experiences are educational, ecological, and cultural. —Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2024

Proponents argued that the apex predators would reestablish an ecological balance in the area. —Jesse Bedayn, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024

Some environmentalists see corporations such as Disney as prime examples of capitalism run amok — of excessive consumerism and waste driving Earth to the brink of ecological catastrophe. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024

Working in the Amazon, Cabral became increasingly aware that ecological abuses converged with other crimes: gunrunning, drug trafficking, homicides. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

Although later Godzilla movies would rehash its ecological ideas, the film stands out for its colorful animation, psychedelic theme song (complete with a surreal nightclub sequence where patrons’ heads turn into fish), and a monster that’s among the cruelest and most destructive in the canon. —Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 2