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

An astounding journey About 400 moths were captured for this behavioral experiment and safely released afterward. —Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

In the case of dogs, owners most often cited lack of time, the pet's illness, and behavioral problems such as biting. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025

Advertisement No other cognitive behavioral conditioning occurs on this universal a scale. —Dr. Rami Kaminski, Time, 18 June 2025

In May, the Department of Health and Human Services issued new guidance recommending behavioral therapy rather than gender-affirming care for children with gender dysphoria. —David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 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