endogenous
Americanadjective
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proceeding from within; derived internally.
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Biology. growing or developing from within; originating within.
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Pathology. (of a disease) resulting from conditions within the organism rather than externally caused.
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Biochemistry. pertaining to the metabolism of nitrogenous elements of cells and tissues.
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Geology. endogenetic.
adjective
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biology developing or originating within an organism or part of an organism
endogenous rhythms
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having no apparent external cause
endogenous depression
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of endogenous
Explanation
If your doctor says your sickness is endogenous, he means that whatever's wrong with you went wrong inside your body, and wasn't caused by anything you can catch, like a virus. Endogenous is a fancy term for anything that originates internally. You're most likely to see the word endogenous when you're dealing with biology, but it can mean "coming from within" in other senses too. Use it for anything that originates inside a system. The revolution in your school was endogenous, even though the principal, always in denial, chose to blame it on outside rabble-rousers.
Vocabulary lists containing endogenous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The findings were published in Analytical Chemistry in 2025 under the title "Evidence for Endogenous Collagen in Edmontosaurus Fossil Bone."
From Science Daily • May 14, 2026
Endogenous regulatory proteins prevent the complement complex from binding to host cells.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
Endogenous healing involves the autonomic nervous system that regulates bodily functions, such as the heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate.
From Slate • Jul. 6, 2021
Endogenous opioids are probably released, enabling the animal to keep fighting back despite injury.
From Scientific American • Jul. 26, 2013
Endogenous Structures, in botany, are those which arise in the interior of the parent organ.
From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 2: Ebert to Estremadura by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
