ecological
gb/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl/ us/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl/
B2
English
~ 8000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
Relating to ecosystems and environment
Connected to how plants, animals, and other living things interact with each other and with the land, air, and water around them.
Usage pattern:
ecological [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners often think "ecological" only means "good for the environment". In this sense, it is neutral and can describe positive, negative, or simply scientific aspects of how living things and their environment interact. Also, learners may confuse "ecological" with "economic" because the words look similar.
Synonyms
environmental (Very close in meaning in everyday use; slightly broader, can include social or cultural environment, not only biological ecosystems.)
Antonyms
environmentally harmful (Describes something that damages ecosystems instead of affecting them neutrally or being studied scientifically.)
Collocations
ecological balance
|ecological impact
|ecological footprint
|ecological system
|ecological crisis
|ecological damage
Themes
environment
|science
|climate_change
|nature
Examples
- The new dam could have serious ecological consequences for the river delta.
- Scientists are studying the ecological effects of climate change on Arctic wildlife.
- Overfishing has disrupted the ecological balance of the lake.
- The report describes the rainforest as one of the most complex ecological systems on Earth.
- The oil spill led to long-term ecological damage along the coast.
Learner examples
- Cutting down the forest will cause many ecological problems.
- Ecological changes in the ocean are hurting many kinds of fish.
- The park is an important ecological area for birds.
- The company made a plan to reduce its ecological impact.
- We learned about different ecological systems in science class.
adjective
B2
property
2
Environmentally friendly or sustainable
Not harming the environment much; planned to use less energy, water, or other resources.
Usage pattern:
ecological [product/service/practice]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "I am very ecological" when they mean "I care about the environment" or "I live in an eco-friendly way". It is more natural to say "environmentally conscious", "environmentally aware", or "eco-friendly" about a person. Also, in some languages "ecological" is the normal everyday word for "green" products; in English, "eco-friendly" and "green" are more common in casual speech.
Synonyms
eco-friendly (Very close in meaning; more common in everyday speech and marketing than "ecological" in this sense.)
Antonyms
polluting (Describes products, activities, or systems that harm the environment instead of protecting it.)
Collocations
ecological products
|ecological farming
|ecological tourism
|ecological housing
|ecological packaging
|ecological lifestyle
Themes
environment
|consumption
|lifestyle
|nature
|science
Examples
- They chose an ecological cleaning product that doesn't contain harsh chemicals.
- The city is promoting more ecological forms of transport, such as cycling and electric buses.
- She runs an ecological farm that avoids synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
- The hotel advertises itself as an ecological option for environmentally conscious travelers.
- Switching to ecological packaging has reduced the company's plastic waste.
Learner examples
- We want to buy more ecological products for our home.
- The company says its new cars are more ecological than the old ones.
- I try to live in a more ecological way and use less energy.
- Many tourists now look for ecological hotels.
- The school started an ecological project to save water.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ecological
IPA
GB/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl/
US/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl/
Syllables & stress
eco - lo - gic - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (gic)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: ecological
Word family
Core family
Related words
ecosystem
noun B2
environmental
adjective B1
Expressions
ecological awareness
1/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl əwˈɛɹnəs/
fixed phrase
Understanding and caring about ecology
Knowing about environmental problems and caring about how we affect nature.
Examples
- Schools play an important role in building ecological awareness among children.
- Ecological awareness has increased in recent decades.
- Campaigns on social media helped raise ecological awareness.
ecological balance
1/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl bˈæləns/
fixed phrase
Stability of an ecosystem
A stable situation in nature where plants, animals, and the environment live together in a healthy way.
Examples
- Pollution from the factory has upset the ecological balance of the river.
- Wolves play an important role in maintaining ecological balance in the park.
- Protecting wetlands is vital for the ecological balance of the region.
ecological collapse
1/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl kəlˈæps/
fixed phrase
Severe breakdown of an ecosystem
When an ecosystem becomes so damaged that it can no longer support most of the plants and animals that lived there before.
Examples
- Overfishing could lead to ecological collapse in the region's seas.
- Scientists warn that the coral reef is close to ecological collapse.
- Rapid ecological collapse is difficult to reverse.
ecological crisis
1/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl kɹˈaɪsəs/
fixed phrase
Serious ongoing environmental emergency
A very serious problem in the environment that is happening now and getting worse, often over a large area.
Examples
- Many scientists say we are facing a global ecological crisis.
- The government called the dying forests an ecological crisis.
- Overuse of water has created an ecological crisis in the region.
ecological disaster
1/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl dɪzˈæstɚ/
fixed phrase
Event causing major ecosystem damage
A very serious event, such as an oil spill or nuclear accident, that badly harms the environment and living things.
Examples
- The oil spill was described as an ecological disaster for the coastline.
- Experts warn that continued deforestation could lead to an ecological disaster.
- The dam collapse turned the valley into an ecological disaster zone.
ecological impact
1/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl ˈɪmpækt/
fixed phrase
Effect on ecosystems and nature
The way that something, such as a building project or business, changes or harms the environment.
Examples
- Before building the road, they studied its ecological impact.
- Tourism can have a strong ecological impact on fragile islands.
- The company is trying to reduce the ecological impact of its products.
ecological niche
1/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl nˈɪt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
technical
Species’ role in its ecosystem
The special place and job a type of plant or animal has in nature, including what it eats, where it lives, and how it survives.
Examples
- Each species occupies its own ecological niche in the ecosystem.
- Rats quickly filled the ecological niche left when other small mammals disappeared.
- Invasive species can disrupt existing ecological niches.
ecological restoration
1/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl ɹˌɛstɚˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
Helping damaged ecosystems recover
Work done to help a damaged area of nature become healthy again, for example by planting trees or cleaning rivers.
Examples
- Ecological restoration projects have started along the polluted river.
- Volunteers joined an ecological restoration program to replant native trees.
- Ecological restoration can take many years to show results.
ecological sustainability
1/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl səstˌeɪnəbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
Long-term environmental sustainability
The idea that we should use nature in a way that can continue for a long time without destroying it.
Examples
- The project aims to balance economic growth with ecological sustainability.
- Ecological sustainability has become a key goal for many cities.
- Policies must be tested for their long-term ecological sustainability.
ecological footprint
1/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl fˈʊtpɹˌɪnt/
fixed phrase
Total environmental impact measure
The amount of land, water, and other natural resources a person, group, or country uses and affects through their lifestyle.
Examples
- Flying less is one way to reduce your ecological footprint.
- The report compares the ecological footprint of different countries.
- Moving to a plant-based diet can reduce your ecological footprint.
- Our ecological footprint has grown as we consume more energy and products.
- Cities are trying to shrink their ecological footprint through better planning.