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

This apparent paradox suggests that the olfactory capabilities of sharks are not merely about the number of receptors but their functionality and ecological specialization. —Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025

Top 7 Facts About The Mississippi River By Tom Howarth Science Reporter (Nature) 0 The Mississippi River's Bird's Foot Delta, a vital ecological and economic region, faces rapid deterioration because of rising sea levels, sediment shortages and invasive species. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025

Each piece of this contributed in a way that makes ecological and meteorological sense. —Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 9 Jan. 2025

To tackle this question, researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research designed an ecological experiment. —Alana Chin, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 2