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molecular

American  
[muh-lek-yuh-ler] / məˈlɛk jə lər /

adjective

  1. of or relating to or caused by molecules.

    molecular structure.


molecular British  
/ mə-, məʊˌlɛkjʊˈlærɪtɪ, məʊˈlɛkjʊlə /

adjective

  1. of or relating to molecules

    molecular hydrogen

  2. logic (of a sentence, formula, etc) capable of analysis into atomic formulae of the appropriate kind

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of molecular

First recorded in 1815–25; molecule + -ar 1

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Explanation

Use the adjective molecular to describe something that has to do with or is made up of molecules. If you're studying molecular biology, you're focusing on the molecules that make up living things. When a scientist studies things on a molecular level, she's looking at them up close, examining their cells. The adjective molecular comes up most often in biology and chemistry, and it always describes the very smallest units that make up organisms or elements. Molecular comes from the noun molecule, which means "extremely minute particle," from the Latin molecula, "tiny mass."

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Vocabulary lists containing molecular

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 compound, known by researchers as "Compound 10," is the result of nearly two decades of work led by Ursula Quitterer, Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at ETH Zurich.

From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026

The group had previously shown systemic inflammation in non-obese GK rats with insulin resistance in a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

From Science Daily • May 31, 2026

Senior author Associate Professor Zoe Richards from Curtin's School of Molecular and Life Sciences said the technology could dramatically improve how scientists study and protect deep-sea ecosystems.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2026

Molecular solar thermal systems and fossil fuels are actually both forms of chemical energy storage.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Molecular biology did not drive out older, fixed views about the intimate details of cell function.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

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