behavioral
adjective
be·hav·ior·al
bi-ˈhā-vyə-rəl 
bē-
1
: of or relating to behavior : pertaining to reactions made in response to social stimuli
behavioral problems
behavioral similarities
Half of all potential guide dogs don't get final clearance because of medical or behavioral issues.—
Cassie Kreitner
Cassie Kreitner2
: relating to or concerned with the social, psychological, and emotional factors that affect financial decisions and behavior
behavioral economics
Behavioral finance … holds that financial man—far from the perfect, mechanical trader depicted in textbooks—is a rather neurotic fellow. He follows the crowd, fails to plan ahead and often makes mistakes.—Roger Lowenstein
Roger Lowenstein
behaviorally
bi-ˈhā-vyə-rə-lē
adverb
bē-
… gradually came to the conclusion that the wild dogs are physically and behaviorally distinct enough to constitute a uniform breed.
—Christine Mlot
Christine Mlot
Examples of behavioral in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Federal cuts to treatment and behavioral health services are now making the situation worse, leaving counties scrambling.
—Conor McGill, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
Programs include residential and community-based behavioral health services, therapeutic foster care and adoption services, supportive services for homeless young adults, and long-term care for medically complex or terminally ill children.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Dec. 2025
Two lower federal courts ruled that a holistic analysis of Smith’s IQ scores and other evidence, including his behavioral history and school records, proved he is intellectually disabled and should spend life behind bars rather than face execution.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 10 Dec. 2025
Because the brains of children are still developing, early injuries can disrupt development and lead to long-term cognitive or behavioral issues.
—Amery Treble-Barna, The Conversation, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for behavioral
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Conor McGill, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
Programs include residential and community-based behavioral health services, therapeutic foster care and adoption services, supportive services for homeless young adults, and long-term care for medically complex or terminally ill children.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Dec. 2025
Two lower federal courts ruled that a holistic analysis of Smith’s IQ scores and other evidence, including his behavioral history and school records, proved he is intellectually disabled and should spend life behind bars rather than face execution.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 10 Dec. 2025
Because the brains of children are still developing, early injuries can disrupt development and lead to long-term cognitive or behavioral issues.
—Amery Treble-Barna, The Conversation, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for behavioral
Cite this Entry
“Behavioral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behavioral. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
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