behavioral

adjective

be·​hav·​ior·​al bi-ˈhā-vyə-rəl How to pronounce behavioral (audio)
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 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 With the threat of civilian violence and police surveillance associated with the conflict, mental health struggles have proliferated, behavioral health specialists in greater Dearborn say. Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 Of the $150 million gift announced Tuesday, $50 million will go to the Hilo Medical Center to build out a family birthing center, intensive care unit, neurosurgical program, and behavioral health services. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 Security, sanitation and behavioral health services would have to be available. Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 For the first time, counties would be required to spend behavioral health dollars on housing for homeless people with mental illness and addictions. Francine Kiefer, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2024 But One Medical-specific jobs including front desk staff, office managers, health coaches, behavioral health specialists and a pediatrician were also cut, according to current and former employees. Caroline O'Donovan, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 The campus will offer behavioral health services, a culinary program and other vocational programs. Destiny Torres, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Children are increasingly in need of behavioral health services, childhood vaccines and routine care for conditions such as diabetes and asthma, which commonly afflict low-income Americans. Noah Weiland Desiree Rios, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024 Generating revenue through various means, such as applying for grants and billing Medi-Cal for existing behavioral health services. Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'behavioral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of behavioral was in 1919

Dictionary Entries Near behavioral

Cite this Entry

“Behavioral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behavioral. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on behavioral

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!