ecological
ee-kuh-LOD-zhihkl
Ecological (adj) means relating to ecology — the study of how living things interact with their environment. Example: “The students studied the ecological balance of a small pond.”
adj
1
Relating to ecology — the study of how living things interact with their environment.
"The students studied the ecological balance of a small pond."
"Ecological research shows how bees and flowers depend on each other."
"The report examined the ecological impact of the new dam."
2
Not harmful to the environment; environmentally friendly.
"We bought ecological cleaning products that do not pollute the river."
"The hotel runs on ecological principles, using solar power and recycled water."
"They switched to ecological packaging to cut down on plastic waste."
How to use ecological
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with ecology and the environment, or (informally) "green" and environmentally friendly.
Common pairings
ecological impact
ecological balance
ecological damage
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more ecological
- Superlative
- most ecological
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The students studied the _____ balance of a small pond.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ecological
See all rhymes for ecological →Frequently asked questions
What does “ecological” mean?
The word “ecological” means relating to ecology — the study of how living things interact with their environment. In plain terms, to do with ecology and the environment, or (informally) "green" and environmentally friendly.
How do you pronounce “ecological”?
“Ecological” is pronounced ee-kuh-LOD-zhihkl (/ˌiːkəˈlɒd͡ʒɪkl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “ecological” in a sentence?
Here is “ecological” used in a sentence: “The report examined the ecological impact of the new dam.”
What part of speech is “ecological”?
“Ecological” is an adjective.
Is “ecological” a common word?
“Ecological” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “ecological” have?
“Ecological” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to ecology — the study of how living things interact with their environment.
What is the difference between ecological and environmental?
Ecological specifically relates to ecology, the study of how living things interact with their environment, while environmental is a broader term covering anything related to the natural world, including non-living factors like climate or pollution. In practice the two overlap heavily, but ecological often implies a focus on the relationships between organisms and their surroundings.
What does it mean when something is described as ecological?
When something is described as ecological, it can mean it relates to ecology as a field of study, or, in its second common sense, that it is not harmful to the environment. Context usually makes clear whether the word is being used in the scientific or the everyday, environmentally friendly sense.
What is the difference between ecological and eco-friendly?
Ecological is the more formal adjective and can mean either relating to ecology as a science or being environmentally friendly, while eco-friendly specifically and informally means not harmful to the environment. Eco-friendly is common in marketing language, whereas ecological is used in both scientific and general writing.
