molecular

adjective

mo·​lec·​u·​lar mə-ˈle-kyə-lər How to pronounce molecular (audio)
1
: of, relating to, consisting of, or produced by molecules
molecular oxygen
2
: of or relating to individual or small components
a molecular view of the American Civil War
molecularly adverb

Examples of molecular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bio-Analyzer — Anne McClain activated this device, which allows for the on-orbit qualification of cellular and molecular samples collected aboard the space station. Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 28 June 2025 These odor receptors are the first-line sensors that detect odors in our environment, explains Dennis Mathew, a neuroscientist at the University of Nevada, Reno, who studies olfaction at the cellular and molecular levels. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2025 Even if the researchers behind this molecular cloning technique were mainly driven by curiosity and the desire to learn more about the natural world, there was also a clear benefit for industry. Eva Amsen, JSTOR Daily, 11 June 2025 However, what happens at the molecular level to cause that lung damage hasn’t been well known until now. Paul McClure 03, New Atlas, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for molecular

Word History

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of molecular was in 1770

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Molecular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molecular. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

molecular

adjective
mo·​lec·​u·​lar mə-ˈlek-yə-lər How to pronounce molecular (audio)
: of, relating to, or produced by molecules

Medical Definition

molecular

adjective
mo·​lec·​u·​lar mə-ˈlek-yə-lər How to pronounce molecular (audio)
1
: of, relating to, consisting of, or produced by molecules
molecular oxygen
2
: relating to or emphasizing individual responses or structures of behavior
proceed by more and more detailed analysis to the molecular facts of perceptionG. A. Miller
compare molar entry 3 sense 2
molecularity noun
plural molecularities
molecularly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on molecular

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!