ecological

UK: /ˌiːkəˈlɒdʒɪk^əl/ US: /ˌɛkəˈlɑdʒɪkəl, ˌikə-/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•col•o•gi•cal /ˌɛkəˈlɑdʒɪkəl, ˌikə-/   adj. [before a noun]

1. of or relating to the study of relations between living things and their environment.
2. calling for the protection of air, water, and other natural resources from pollution or its effects;
   environmental.

ec•o•log•i•cal•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ecological / ˌiːkəˈlɒdʒɪk^əl/, ecologic adjective

1. of or relating to ecology
2. (of a practice, policy, product, etc) tending to benefit or cause minimal damage to the environment

ˌecoˈlogically adverb

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•col•o•gy /ɪˈkɑlədʒi/   n. [uncountable]

1. Biology the branch of biology dealing with the relations between living things and their environment.
2. Biology the set of relationships between organisms and their environment.
3. Ecology the act or policy of calling for protection of the air, water, and other natural resources from pollution or its effects;
   environmentalism:
   active in ecology.

See -logy.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•col•o•gy  (i kol′ə jē), n. 

1. Biology the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.
2. Sociology Also called human ecology. the branch of sociology concerned with the spacing and interdependence of people and institutions.

Also, oecology. 

• Greek oîk(os) + -o- -o- + German -logie -logy; term introduced by English. H. Haeckel
• German Ökologie
• 1870–75; earlier oecology

ec•o•log•i•cal  (ek′ə loj′i kəl, ē′kə-), ec′o•log′ic, adj.  ec′o•log′i•cal•ly, adv. 
e•col′o•gist, n.