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

How Design and Color Shape Perception While studies from behavioral psychologists have linked eyewear styles to traits such as intelligence and trustworthiness, certain studies on the shape of frames and the colors that come with them have been linked to certain feelings people have about them. —Daniel Fusch, Ascend Agency, 11 Nov. 2025

Maintaining consistent sleep and wake schedules—even on weekends—is cornerstone of behavioral sleep therapy. —Jennifer Klump, Verywell Health, 11 Nov. 2025

It's become part of the canon of behavioral economics. —Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025

Our longitudinal research adds to the very limited understanding of the early economic, environmental, cognitive, academic and behavioral factors that help shape elementary students’ reading abilities. —Eric Hengyu Hu, The Conversation, 11 Nov. 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