physiological

adjective

phys·​i·​o·​log·​i·​cal ˌfi-zē-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

variants or physiologic

ˌfi-zē-ə-ˈlä-jik 

1

: of or relating to physiology

2

: characteristic of or appropriate to an organism's healthy or normal functioning

the sodium level was physiological

3

: differing in, involving, or affecting physiological factors

a physiological strain of bacteria

physiologically

ˌfi-zē-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of physiological in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In his lab, Lowry has extensively explored the physiological mechanisms linking temperature and mental health. — Will Stone, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026

What makes kratom psychoactive are its alkaloids, which naturally occur in many flowering plants, contain nitrogen and have pronounced physiological effects on humans. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2026

Oura's first-generation ring appeared in 2015, initially as a proof of concept for collecting enough physiological data to develop the science and algorithms behind it. — New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026

But the policy, with its strictly physiological definition, was immovable. — Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing physiological

• physiological psychology
• physiological saline

Rhymes for physiological

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

Kids Definition

physiological

adjective

phys·​i·​o·​log·​i·​cal ˌfiz-ē-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

variants or physiologic

-ˈläj-ik 

1

: of or relating to physiology

2

: characteristic of healthy or normal functioning of the body

physiologically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

physiological

adjective

phys·​i·​o·​log·​i·​cal ˌfiz-ē-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

variants or physiologic

-ik 

1

: of or relating to physiology

2

: characteristic of or appropriate to an organism's healthy or normal functioning

3

: differing in, involving, or affecting physiological factors

a physiological strain of bacteria

physiologically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb