molecular

adjective

mo·​lec·​u·​lar mə-ˈle-kyə-lər 

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

mə-ˈle-kyə-lər-lē 

adverb

Examples of molecular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eating more protein alone will not build muscle because the critical molecular pathways for muscle growth and strength require repeatedly placing heavy forces on the muscle. — Linda M. Boland, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

To study the breakages, the team analyzed the fracture surfaces and ran molecular dynamics computer simulations that trace atomic motion. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026

Martin and his colleagues think that LUCA already possessed such an encoding system in the form of nucleic acids much like modern DNA or RNA, as well as the molecular machinery to translate it to proteins. — Philip Ball, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026

The Fauci story has been documented by Sigrid Bratlie, molecular biologist and author of The Wuhan Mystery. — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing molecular

• gram molecular weight
• molecular biology
• molecular chaperone
• molecular formula
• molecular genetics
• molecular mass
• molecular orbital
• molecular sieve
• molecular weight

Rhymes for molecular

• trabecular
• bimolecular
• biomolecular
• intermolecular
• intramolecular
• macromolecular
• monomolecular
• supramolecular
• unimolecular
• secular
• specular

Kids Definition

molecular

adjective

mo·​lec·​u·​lar mə-ˈlek-yə-lər 

: of, relating to, or produced by molecules

Medical Definition

molecular

adjective

mo·​lec·​u·​lar mə-ˈlek-yə-lər 

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 perception

—G. A. Miller

compare molar entry 3 sense 2

molecularity

-ˌlek-yə-ˈlar-ət-ē 

noun

plural molecularities

molecularly

mə-ˈlek-yə-lər-lē 

adverb