behavior

play

noun be·hav·ior \bi-ˈhā-vyər, bē-\

Definition of behavior

1a : the manner of conducting (see ²conduct 4) oneself criminal behavior normal adolescent behaviorb : anything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulationc : 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

After Jones’ arrest, the team made the unusual move of publicly apologizing for his behavior, especially his vulgar comments to police officers in a cruiser.

— the associated press, The Seattle Times, "Bengals sign 2nd-round pick RB Joe Mixon", 2 June 2017
And many were offended by their behavior, seeing the chaos on campus as a symbol that liberal politics so dominate college campuses that civil debates about ideas have become impossible.

— susan svrluga, Washington Post, "Evergreen State, caught up in racial turmoil, remains closed Friday after threat of violence", 2 June 2017
On Wednesday, allegations of inappropriate behavior against him surfaced at Kent Denver, a private day school in Colorado, which means that Mr. Lyman now stands accused of misconduct with students at three of those schools, across three states.

— elizabeth a. harris, New York Times, "In a Brief Prep School Career, a Growing List of Sexual Misconduct Allegations", 1 June 2017
Home loans vary by country and differences in borrowers’ repayment behavior justify a more nuanced approach, rather than imposing the same sets of capital charges on all banks’ mortgages, Cryan said Tuesday at an investor conference in New York.

— matt scully, Bloomberg.com, "Deutsche CEO Says Europe Must Fight U.S. Mortgage Capital Rules", 30 May 2017
A: Normally with wedding quandaries, behavior starts to get so extreme and polarized so as to create caricatures.

— andrea bonior, chicagotribune.com, "My best friend wants to bring a date to my wedding and it's ruining all my plans", 30 May 2017
Forget the low lows of 2016, a year defined by political cynicism and brutish behavior, or even these first months of 2017, which have been swallowed by dramatic revelations and relentless Washington in-fighting.

— emma green, The Atlantic, "The Disappearance of Virtue From American Politics", 29 May 2017
Assistant Principal Gene Teel said the teen was one of 125 students who qualified for the trip through the school's privilege program which rewards students for grades, attendance and behavior.

— carrie napoleon, Post-Tribune, "New slide attraction welcomes start to season at water park", 26 May 2017
Lisa Wade, an associate professor of sociology at Occidental College, argues bad behavior is a fundamental part of fraternity DNA.

— the tylt, AL.com, "Should colleges get rid of fraternities?", 26 May 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!

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Other Psychology Terms

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

BEHAVIOR Defined for English Language Learners

behavior

play

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

play

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

\bi-ˈhā-vyər\play

Medical Definition of behavior

1: the manner of conducting oneself
2a: anything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulationb: the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment