Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

malbehavior

noun
mal·behavior | \ ¦mal+ \

Definition of malbehavior 

: behavior that is regarded as socially unacceptable few forms of malbehavior … are not in history and essence a variation or deflection of normal mechanisms —A. L. Gesell and Frances Ilg

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for malbehavior

mal- entry 1 + behavior

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about malbehavior

Share malbehavior

Resources for malbehavior

Cite Time Traveler Time Traveler! Explore the year a word first appeared

Dictionary Entries near malbehavior

Malaysia

Malay squirrel

Malay wild dog

malbehavior

malbrouck

malchus

Malcolm X

Statistics for malbehavior

Look-up Popularity

Comments on malbehavior

What made you want to look up malbehavior? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

panoply

a magnificent or impressive array

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Name that Food Quiz

  • alt-573b465788319
  • Name these cookies!
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games