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

Next, behavioral interviews and assessments can be used to identify core strengths and natural preferences in order to find or design a role where the candidate’s unique wiring becomes their greatest asset, not their liability. —Miriam Groom, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

The federal bureaucracy is sustained by dozens of statistical agencies, units, and programs, all of which collect data in fields including crime, Social Security, animal diseases, housing, behavioral health, income, small businesses, large businesses, crop prices, transportation, and energy. —Fergus McIntosh, New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2025

However, the analyses also revealed that some behavioral traits really are directly linked to head shape. —Laura Baisas Aug 6, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2025

Tariffs and inflation are being blamed for the behavioral shift. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025

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