WordGarden.iobiologically
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /bˌaɪəlˈɒdʒɪkli/
US
- /baɪəˈlɑdʒɪkli/
Meanings
Adverb
in terms of living organisms or biological processes
Beyond the definition
"Biologically" describes how something happens in terms of life and living systems—how organisms grow, function, and evolve. It usually points to natural mechanisms rather than learned habits or artificial systems. If a process is biologically driven, it is happening through an organism’s biology. For instance, a plant turning toward the light is doing so biologically. In family-related talk, we use this word for people who share DNA, noting that they are biologically related. It emphasizes inherited biology and physical health as core parts of natural existence.
The word "biologically" is the adverb form of biological, which comes from the Greek bios (life) and -logia (study of). It is used to describe anything that happens through living organisms or their life-based processes.
In science and medicine, you will often see it in discussions of ecology, health, and inheritance. A scientist may assess how biologically diverse a coral reef is by counting its species, and a clinician may say a patient is biologically predisposed to a condition, meaning genetic factors increase risk in addition to lifestyle.
In everyday language, "biologically" helps distinguish natural relationships from legal or social ones. For example, it clarifies family links: a child can be biologically related to a parent, as opposed to being adopted. It also describes body-based, involuntary responses. When you flinch at a sudden loud noise, you are reacting biologically—your nervous system triggers a reflex before conscious thought takes over. Whether speaking about DNA at the molecular level or the complex interactions of a rainforest, using "biologically" highlights the living systems at work.
Examples
- 1
Family relation
The child is not biologically related to the couple who raised her.
- Patternbiologically related to + person/family
connected by birth
- 2
Animal classification
Whales look a bit like fish, but biologically they are very different.
- 3
Physical maturity
At sixteen, he seemed fully grown, but biologically he was still maturing.
- 4
Disease comparison
The two diseases have similar symptoms, but biologically they are not the same.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Scientific complexity
The idea sounds simple, but biologically it's much more complicated than that.
See also
Similar
- biotically
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- biologically active
- biologically plausible
- biologically related
- biologically determined
Word family
Explore
- life sciences
- biological mechanism
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- biologicallyadverb