endogenous

American  

[en-doj-uh-nuhs] / ɛnˈdɒdʒ ə nəs /

adjective

1. proceeding from within; derived internally.

2. Biology. growing or developing from within; originating within.

3. Pathology. (of a disease) resulting from conditions within the organism rather than externally caused.

4. Biochemistry. pertaining to the metabolism of nitrogenous elements of cells and tissues.

5. Geology. endogenetic.

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endogenous British  

/ ɛnˈdɒdʒɪnəs /

adjective

1. biology developing or originating within an organism or part of an organism

   endogenous rhythms

2. having no apparent external cause

   endogenous depression

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endogenous Scientific  

/ ĕn-dŏj′ə-nəs /

1. Originating or produced within an organism, tissue, or cell.

2. Compare exogenous

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Other Word Forms

• endogenicity noun
• endogenously adverb
• endogeny noun

Etymology

Origin of endogenous

First recorded in 1825–35; endo- + -genous

Example Sentences

Yet current prescribing guidelines don’t recommend asking a basic question before initiating treatment: Does this patient actually have low endogenous GLP-1 levels?

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026

Economists after Solow, particularly Robert Lucas and Paul Romer, had models of economic growth with endogenous technological change.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 13, 2025

But those worldviews are not just endogenous to groups.

From Salon • Mar. 1, 2025

These more advanced forms of silencing ended up regulating the expression of the cell's endogenous genes, leading to the evolution of genomic imprinting.

From Science Daily • Mar. 6, 2024

It is an endogenous plant, the stem of which is enclosed in layers of half-round petioles.

From The Philippine Islands by Foreman, John

Related Words

• internal
• remote