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

As for the colors of the northern lights, these are determined by Earth's atmosphere and the altitude of the molecular collisions, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025

Statewide, molecular research into autism, therapies for brain aging and drug development all had indirect costs topping 40%. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025

There is yet another question for researchers to answer: whether, on a molecular level, young patients’ cancers are dramatically different from those that occur in older people. —Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 13 Feb. 2025

Interestingly, a 2022 study in mice found chronic caffeine consumption caused notable molecular changes in the hippocampus. —New Atlas, 11 Feb. 2025

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

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