behaviour

American  

[bih-heyv-yer] / bɪˈheɪv yər /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. behavior.

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behaviour British  

/ bɪˈheɪvjə /

noun

1. manner of behaving or conducting oneself

2. behaving with careful good manners

3. psychol

   1. the aggregate of all the responses made by an organism in any situation

   2. a specific response of a certain organism to a specific stimulus or group of stimuli

4. the action, reaction, or functioning of a system, under normal or specified circumstances

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Spelling

See -or ¹.

Other Word Forms

• behavioural adjective

Etymology

Origin of behaviour

C15: from _behave ; influenced in form by Middle English havior , from Old French havoir , from Latin habēre to have

Example Sentences

Phillipson said: "Suspensions will always play a critical role in helping heads manage poor behaviour, but time at home today can too easily mean children retreating to social media, gaming and the online world."

From BBC

"Because, if you know the facts only, it doesn't change people and doesn't change behaviour. We all know better, but we don't do better."

From BBC

Concerns first emerged in October about the behaviour of members of the Cardiff University sports team during an initiation event at a pub in the city.

From BBC

Divulging his experience of mingling with fellow Cotswolds-residing celebrities, Llewelyn-Bowen said people tend to be on their best behaviour when they retreat to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds.

From BBC

News of the dingoes' euthanisation was "heart-wrenching", he told Australian media, adding however that he recognised it may be necessary for safety because of the pack's behaviour.

From Barron's