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

Ask your clinician which levers, dietary, behavioral or pharmaceutical, fit your specific numbers. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026

These check-ins can help avoid behavioral or academic difficulties and prevent a problem from becoming worse. — Nikki R Wooten, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026

First, the city must build capacity at 911 to better assess and identify behavioral health calls. — Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

The program would have provided care for homeless people living with mental illnesses, addiction or other behavioral health conditions. — Mark Dee october 8, Idaho Statesman, 8 Oct. 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