Skip to main content
biological

biological

157 4.5
Related by blood rather than by adoption or marriage
  • adjective
  • /ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/
translation icon : biológico
  • In addition, 95 percent of babies are born into households in which their biological parents live together.
  • biological parents
  • biological mother
  • biological father

My aunt on my biological dad's side was a teacher.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Father, I would like you to meet my biological mother.

  • I'm 37 years old, and I've never met my biological father.

  • You know anything about her biological parents?

  • Father, I would like you to meet my biological mother.

  • Well, his biological mother is alive.

  • See, my biological father was black.

  • Our kids inherited DNA from their biological parents, right?

  • My goal for many of them is to reunite them with their biological parents.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • You know anything about her biological parents?

  • Many adults who decide to seek out their biological parents face a number of obstacles.

Synonyms

natural
vsbiological
85 3.5

Related by blood rather than by adoption

is broader, covering genetic connections beyond just parent and child
blood-related
vsbiological
1 4.1

Born into the same family, not connected by marriage or adoption

is the general term for genetic family ties rather than adoption
consanguineous
vsbiological
  • Specialized
1 9.9

People who share the same ancestor and are related by blood

overlaps in meaning but centers on genetic connection over legal ties
consanguine
vsbiological
  • Archaic
9.9

People who have the same blood, like brothers or cousins

includes those cases but focuses on genetic relation rather than adoption
consanguineal
vsbiological
  • Specialized
9.9

Related by blood, like brothers or parents

is similar but also used for close genetic relations, not only ancestry

Antonyms

57 4.1

Related to someone because they became part of the family by law instead of by birth

A person who is not related by birth, for example an adopted or step family member

Compounds

60 5.6

A weapon that uses germs like bacteria or viruses to harm people, animals and plants

biological clock
  • Specialized
11 3.7

A natural system inside the body that controls daily cycles like sleep and hormone changes

10 6.5

A germ or toxin used on purpose to make people sick, often as a weapon

10 6.1

Using germs or poisons as weapons to harm people, animals and plants and contaminate food and water

6 5.5

An attack using bacteria, viruses or poisons to harm people, animals and crops

biological process
  • Specialized
3 3.9

A process that happens inside a living thing and helps it live

biological research
  • Specialized
3 4.0

Study by scientists of living things to learn how they work

biological science
  • Specialized
2 3.5

The study of living things, like animals, plants, and cells, and how they work

To use bacteria or viruses as weapons to hurt people and cause fear

biological time
  • Specialized
1 5.6

Internal body timing that controls processes like sleep and cell division

biological group
  • Specialized
3.4

A group of plants or animals put together because they share traits

biological defense
  • Specialized
4.3

Actions to protect people and places from harmful bacteria, viruses and toxins

4.8

Actions and plans to protect people and places from attacks using harmful germs

How Similar

identical
66 2.6
genetically similar
  • Specialized
1 4.2
biological
157 4.5
unrelated
10 3.5

Surface Forms

biological positive

Morphology

biological = biology (opaque) = biology + ical

The form is transparently built from 'biology' + '-ical', but this blood-relationship sense is a lexicalized extension that is not directly predictable from the components.

Etymology

Biological comes from the root bio- meaning 'life', so a biological parent is the person who gave you life or who shares your blood.