physiological
Americanadjective
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of or relating to physiology
-
of or relating to normal healthful functioning; not pathological
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of physiological
First recorded in 1600–10; physiolog(y) + -ical
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How does physiological compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Anything physiological has to do with the body and its systems. You might notice that your physiological response to a scary movie includes your heart beating faster and your hands getting sweaty. You know that the root word of physiological is phys, which refers to the body (think of those phys. ed. classes you panted through). That root comes from the Greek word for nature. Add the suffix ology, which means "the study of" (see where we're going?), and finally, tack on that little ical. Ta-taa! You have turned the root into an adjective to describe the way your body works. Let's get physiological!
Vocabulary lists containing physiological
"Take the Tortillas Out of Your Poetry" by Rudolfo Anaya
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Silent Spring
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The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
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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 researchers argue that potential physiological effects from rising CO2 should therefore be considered in future discussions about climate policy, alongside its established environmental consequences.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026
“And they reduce the feeling of heat. They work in a mild manner with the body’s physiological system bringing the system back into balance.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
"Heat stress might to feel like anxiety, they have the same physiological response," says Professor Ciara MaCabre, who works at the University of Reading and specialises in mental health.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Roger Fielding, a professor of nutrition at Tufts University, said there’s no evidence that elite brands have any sort of biological or physiological advantage over other bottled waters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
This is not surprising, because in time of physiological stress the organism, be it fish or man, draws on stored fat for energy.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
