Definitions
01scientific study of nature
B2 · Upper Intermediate Science Academic
adj. relating to the scientific study of how living things interact with their environment.
adj. pertaining to the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
“The oil spill caused an ecological disaster that affected thousands of birds.”
“The researchers conducted an ecological survey to determine how the new dam would affect the local fish population and water quality.”
Usage
Often used to describe large-scale systems or scientific research.
Synonyms
02environmentally friendly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. designed to protect the environment or not cause damage to nature.
adj. characterised by a lack of harmful effects on the environment; often used as a synonym for 'green' or 'eco-friendly'.
日本語:エコ※
“Many people are switching to ecological cleaning products to reduce water pollution.”
“The company has committed to more ecological manufacturing processes to meet the growing demand for sustainable consumer goods.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ecological” in context.
Verb
01. avert ecological collapse
“Global leaders must act decisively to avert ecological collapse in the coming century.”
verb + adj + noun
02. cause ecological damage
“Industrial runoff continues to cause significant ecological damage to the river system.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
03. ecological balance
“Reintroducing wolves to the national park helped restore the natural ecological balance.”
adj + noun
04. ecological disaster
“The oil spill was an ecological disaster that decimated the local marine population for decades.”
adj + noun
05. ecological footprint
“Adopting a plant-based diet is one of the most effective ways to reduce your ecological footprint.”
adj + noun
06. ecological integrity
“The primary goal of the conservation project is to maintain the ecological integrity of the wetlands.”
adj + noun
07. ecological niche
“Each species within the rainforest occupies a specific ecological niche to avoid direct competition.”
adj + noun
08. profoundly ecological
“The architect's design was profoundly ecological, utilizing passive solar heating and recycled materials.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“Carrying roughly 800,000 barrels of Russian crude, the vessel ran aground near a marine reserve, raising fears of a severe ecological crisis.” “While dinosaurs kept mammals from becoming large, small mammals may have returned the favor by occupying ecological niches that could otherwise have supported mouse-sized dinosaurs.” Etymology
From ecology + -ical.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ecological
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0