physiological
Americanadjective
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of or relating to physiology
-
of or relating to normal healthful functioning; not pathological
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of physiological
First recorded in 1600–10; physiolog(y) + -ical
Compare meaning
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
Silent Spring
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"Take the Tortillas Out of Your Poetry" by Rudolfo Anaya
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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.
Guzzo said that Kennedy’s comments reflect an insistence on finding a physiological reason for population decline, despite there being no evidence for that.
From Salon • May 15, 2026
“They’re really blasting you with these super physiological doses of UV radiation that you couldn’t even find in a natural environment,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
The results revealed clear physiological and emotional changes.
From Science Daily • May 3, 2026
He says Sawe, whose success he puts down to physiological advantages paired with an excellent attitude, is far from reaching his full potential only four races into his marathon career.
From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026
“All the physiological stigmata of old age have been abolished. And along with them, of course . . .” “Don’t forget to ask him about that Malthusian belt,” said Fanny.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
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.
