Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

molecular

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

adjective

  1. of or relating to or caused by molecules.

    molecular structure.


molecular British  
/ məʊˈlɛkjʊlə, mə- /

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


Compare meaning

How does molecular compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:


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."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

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.

See Examples For:

One possibility is that adjusting DEAF1 activity could reproduce some of the molecular changes normally triggered by physical activity.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

Scientists have nicknamed it the "Pac-Man enzyme" because its molecular structure features a remarkably wide opening where chemical reactions take place, known as the active site.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

The molecular glue form of degraders were discovered serendipitously.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

In August, Bristol Myers Squibb BMY 4.61%increase; up pointing triangle received approval for a next-generation multiple myeloma treatment, Zenbexus, that works as a form of molecular glue.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Pauling had not produced a bang; he had created a molecular Big Bang.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training