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

Caitlin Cronenberg’s assured directorial debut Humane begins with the planet plagued by ecological disaster. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024

Hummingbirds are important pollinators, contributing to the ecological health and biodiversity of Arizona's ecosystems. —The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024

Around a third of its surface area enjoys some sort of conservation status, making Asturias an ecological resource of inestimable value. —Paul Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2024

Establishing tangible metrics that can be utilized to serve as markers to track the ecological benefits that AI generates and refining AI operations in the cloud environment to minimize carbon footprints even within the limitations of current technologies are all important steps. —Nicola Sfondrini, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

The marine sanctuary designations, which are given by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, improve protections for places with important ecological and historical underwater features. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 2