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

Cooling reduces the thermal and physiological burden of playing in the heat; hydration replaces the fluid losses that heat and effort continuously produce. — Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Funk was one of the Mercury 13, a group of women who successfully passed the same rigorous physiological exams as NASA astronauts in the early 1960s. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 10 July 2026

These physiological adaptations may play a role in counteracting cardiovascular risk factors, according to the authors of the study published June 17 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Its pitch is that logging activities alongside physiological data helps users spot which parts of their day drain them and which restore them. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 7 July 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