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

Officials said these counties' higher rates cannot sufficiently be explained by the demographic characteristics and behavioral risk factors. —Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register, 5 Feb. 2026

This dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) tactic balances the nervous system, taking us from a sympathetic response back to a parasympathetic state. —Stefanie Groner, Glamour, 4 Feb. 2026

The operators of a South Bay adult behavioral services center have bought three commercial buildings in the Willow Glen district of San Jose in a sign that the lively neighborhood continues to attract real estate investors. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026

Steve Corona, a Fort Wayne School Board member and president of the Indiana School Boards Association, said data showed academic performance has improved and behavioral disruptions decreased since the ban began. —Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 4 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