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

Residents reportedly lived in deplorable conditions at the since-shuttered recovery site, an unlicensed behavioral health center called the Thomas Suites Campus of Care, where there were reports of rampant drug dealing and no running water. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026

Florida high schoolers who have behavioral health threat assessment records in their file would also have those records transferred to their higher education institution. —Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2026

Dalton is also credited with leading reforms in behavioral health and community safety, seeing declines in violent crime by nearly 20%. —Patrick Damp, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026

Consistent and prolonged stretching could trigger this effect, potentially improving insulin sensitivity and glycemic control over the long term, according to Manoj Sharma, MBBS, PhD, a professor of social and behavioral health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s School of Public Health. —Julia Ries Wexler, Health, 25 Feb. 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