the way a person, animal, or thing acts or responds, especially toward others or in a particular situation
The teacher praised Emma's polite behavior in class.
The dog's excited behavior told us it wanted to play.
✦ from behave + -ior, modelled on late Middle English ‘behaviour’ from Anglo-French ‘behaveour’
relating to the way a person or animal behaves, or to the scientific study of behaviour
The new teacher used behavioral strategies to keep the class focused and calm.
Scientists carried out a behavioral study on dolphins to understand how they communicate underwater.
✦ From the noun behavior + -al, first recorded in the late 19th century in psychological literature.
bad or unacceptable behavior, especially by children.
The teacher sent a note home about Tommy's misbehavior during recess.
"Such misbehavior will not be tolerated in this classroom," the teacher warned.
✦ From mis- ("wrong, badly") + behavior.
