Origin: Latin suffix -al
Ecological has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
characterized by the interdependence of living organisms in an environment
"an ecological disaster"
of or relating to the science of ecology
"ecological research"
Relating to ecology, the interrelationships of organisms and their environment.
"The ecological balance in the forest depends on how predators control prey populations."
In plain English: Ecological means relating to how living things interact with each other and their environment.
"The new garden focuses on ecological principles to support local wildlife."
Usage: Use ecological when describing factors that influence an ecosystem or how living things interact with their surroundings. This term is often confused with environmental, but it specifically emphasizes biological relationships rather than general pollution or conservation efforts.
The word ecological comes from combining ecology with the suffix -ical to mean "relating to." It entered English as a straightforward formation based on its root concept of ecosystems.