physiological
Americanadjective
-
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
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
When thought moves forward, it recruits the brain systems involved in learning, motivation and future planning, and this forward engagement helps energize the very physiological systems that support resilience and well-being.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026
"There's often a physiological and emotional impact that's shared and that isn't given the same weight as the physical impact maybe because it's more difficult to see."
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
The term sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women, while gender refers to society’s constructed roles, expectations, behaviors, attitudes, and activities that it deems appropriate for men and women.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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.
