behaviorist

noun

be·​hav·​ior·​ist bi-ˈhā-vyə-rist 

bē-

1

: a person who advocates or practices behaviorism

2

: a person who specializes in the study of behavior

an animal behaviorist

behaviorist adjective

Examples of behaviorist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If your dog is prone to excessive barking, dog behaviorist Cesar Millan has some suggestions to fix that. —Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025

In the nineteen-seventies, Nick discovered, a few psychologists, liberated from mid-century behaviorist orthodoxy, had begun to explore imagery again. —Larissa MacFarquhar, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2025

Nicole Kohanski, a dog behaviorist and trainer, shared her top preflight tips for pet owners with Newsweek. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025

Giant rats with pouchy cheeks are out here detecting landmines and being literal heroes This week’s episode features special guest Carly Anne York, an animal behaviorist and physiologist who studies how animals interact with their environments. —Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for behaviorist

• behaviourist

Medical Definition

behaviorist

1 of 2 noun

be·​hav·​ior·​ist

variants or chiefly British behaviourist

-rəst 

1

: a person who advocates or practices behaviorism

2

: a person who specializes in the study of behavior

Animal behaviorists are often consulted regarding such problems as aggression, self-mutilation, food aversion and inappropriate urination or defecation.

—Tom Ewing, Dog Watch

behaviorist

2 of 2 adjective

: of or relating to behaviorism

behaviorist psychology