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

2

: 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

behaviorally

bi-ˈhā-vyə-rə-lē 

bē-

adverb

… gradually came to the conclusion that the wild dogs are physically and behaviorally distinct enough to constitute a uniform breed.

—Christine Mlot

Examples of behavioral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The same behavioral signals that reveal a consumer is an avid traveler can also flag when their account suddenly exhibits spending patterns that look nothing like them. — Jess Turner, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

In contrast to loneliness’s 2023 diagnosis as a modern behavioral epidemic, there’s a growing trend of midlife women flipping the script and choosing to be alone. — Cheryl Fenton, Flow Space, 5 Nov. 2026

In general, Hadland said some patients with severe brain bleeds in infancy can develop long-term movement problems, including cerebral palsy, may develop behavioral challenges, or may require a shunt to manage high pressures around their brain. — Dr. Jade Cobern, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026

According to the Centers for Disease Control, symptoms of eastern equine encephalitis can include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing behavioral

• behavioral modification
• behavioral science
• behavioral therapist
• behavioral therapy
• cognitive behavioral therapy

Rhymes for behavioral

• behavioural
• biobehavioral
• neurobehavioral