behavior

noun be·hav·ior \ bi-ˈhā-vyər , bē- \

Definition of behavior

1 a :the manner of conducting (see ²conduct 4) oneself

criminal behavior

normal adolescent behavior

b :anything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulation

c :the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment

They are studying the behavior of elephants in the wild.

2 :the way in which someone conducts oneself or behaves (see behave 1)

We were grateful for the gracious behavior of our hostess.

The children were rewarded for good behavior.

Be on your best behavior.

; also :an instance of such behavior

unacceptable social behaviors

3 :the way in which something functions or operates

They tested the behavior of various metals under heat and pressure.

—

behavioral

play \-vyə-rəl\ adjective

—

behaviorally

play \-rə-lē\ adverb

See behavior defined for English-language learners

See behavior defined for kids

Examples of behavior in a Sentence

I'm surprised by her bad behavior toward her friends.
Students will be rewarded for good behavior.
scientists studying the behavior of elephants
An acceptable social behavior in one country may be unacceptable in another country.
Doctors are trying to educate people about behaviors that can put them at increased risk for skin cancer.
The experiment tested the behavior of various metals under heat and pressure.

Recent Examples of behavior from the Web

But the family’s lawyer, Allegra L. Fishel, founder of the Gender Equality Law Center, said that the school viewed the comment as suspicious in the first place because of Leo’s everyday behavior.

— elizabeth a. harris, New York Times, "Family of Boy Who Wears Dresses Sues Education Department," 29 Aug. 2017
A: Understanding human behavior has helped me as a deputy on patrol and as a crisis negotiator.

— nicole miller-coleman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "New chief talks about her background, experience and priorities," 27 Aug. 2017
Not a crime, perhaps, but hardly the behavior of a righteous badass.

— danielle tcholakian, Longreads, "The Collected Crimes of Sheriff Joe Arpaio," 26 Aug. 2017
But defending racist behavior only defends the white supremacist status quo — and does little to open up conversations that can move our society and the beauty industry in a progressive direction.

— minda honey, Teen Vogue, "How We Can Help End Blackface in the Beauty Industry," 17 Aug. 2017
This is no longer free speech; this is hateful, violent behavior that cannot be accepted.

— sergio carmona, Jewish Journal, "South Florida Jewish leaders condemn violence in Virginia," 17 Aug. 2017
Kenworthy and Bascom recently co-authored the largest autism study to date on the gender differences in executive functioning and adaptive behavior.

— jennifer malia, The Cut, "A New Look at How Autism Affects Girls," 16 Aug. 2017
Will the president’s words retain any power, any credibility, to deter North Korea’s aggression and change the behavior of its allies?

— margaret hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "Was Trump’s North Korea Threat a Strategy Shift or Pure Bluster?," 9 Aug. 2017
The mentors spoke about what behaviors helped or hindered them the previous year and worked one-on-one to help their mentee finish the English summer assignment.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Metea giving new AP students an added leg up with senior mentors," 3 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'behavior.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of behavior

alteration of Middle English behavour, from behaven "to behave" + -our ²-or

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

behavior Synonyms

Synonyms

actions, address, bearing, comportment, conduct, demeanor, deportment, geste (also gest) [archaic]

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

BEHAVIOR Defined for English Language Learners

behavior

noun

Definition of behavior for English Language Learners

: the way a person or animal acts or behaves
: the way something (such as a machine or substance) moves, functions, or reacts

BEHAVIOR Defined for Kids

behavior

noun be·hav·ior \ bi-ˈhāv-yər \

Definition of behavior for Students

1 :the manner in which a person acts

Students are rewarded for good behavior.

2 :the whole activity of something and especially a living being

Scientists observed the elephant's behavior.

Medical Dictionary

behavior

noun be·hav·ior

variants: or chiefly British behaviour play \bi-ˈhā-vyər\

medical Definition of behavior

1 :the manner of conducting oneself

2 a :anything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulation

b :the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment

—

behavioral

or chiefly British behavioural play \-vyə-rəl\ adjective

—

behaviorally

or chiefly British behaviourally play \-rə-lē\ adverb

Learn More about behavior

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BEHAVIOR Defined for English Language Learners

behavior

Definition of behavior for English Language Learners

BEHAVIOR Defined for Kids

behavior

Definition of behavior for Students

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behavior

medical Definition of behavior

behavioral

behaviorally

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