zoological

adjective

zoo·​log·​i·​cal ˌzō-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce zoological (audio)
variants or less commonly zoologic
ˌzō-ə-ˈlä-jik How to pronounce zoological (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or concerned with zoology
2
: of, relating to, or affecting animals that are not humans
a zoological park
zoologically
ˌzō-ə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce zoological (audio)
adverb

Examples of zoological in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Where did Phoebe get this zoological insight? — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026 The zoo has been operated since 1997 by the zoological society, a nonprofit. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 19 Mar. 2026 For Kendi, a 27-year-old white rhino who has called the zoological theme park home for her entire life, any difference in her was not subtle, according to a Disney Parks Blog post. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026 Disney's Animal Kingdom seems to build upon the island's zoological theme with interactive and immersive animal exhibits. — Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for zoological

Word History

Etymology

zoology + -ical

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of zoological was in 1686

Phrases Containing zoological

Rhymes for zoological

See All Rhymes for zoological

Browse Nearby Words

zoologer
zoological
zoological garden
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Zoological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zoological. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

zoological

adjective
zoo·​log·​i·​cal ˌzō-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl How to pronounce zoological (audio)
: of, relating to, or concerned with zoology

Medical Definition

zoological

adjective
zoo·​log·​i·​cal ˌzō-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl How to pronounce zoological (audio)
variants also zoologic
-ik How to pronounce zoological (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or occupied with zoology
2
: of, relating to, or affecting lower animals often as distinguished from humans
zoological infections

More from Merriam-Webster on zoological

Nglish: Translation of zoological for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All