behavior

especially British, be·hav·iour

[bih-heyv-yer]

noun

1. manner of behaving or acting.

   Synonyms: carriage, bearing, demeanor

2. Psychology, Animal Behavior.

   1. observable activity in a human or animal.

   2. the aggregate of responses to internal and external stimuli.

   3. a stereotyped, species-specific activity, as a courtship dance or startle reflex.

3. Often behaviors. a behavior pattern.

4. the action or reaction of any material under given circumstances.

   the behavior of tin under heat.

behavior

1. The actions displayed by an organism in response to its environment.

2. One of these actions. Certain animal behaviors (such as nest building) result from instinct, while others (such as hunting) must be learned.

3. The manner in which a physical system, such as a gas, subatomic particle, or ecosystem, acts or functions, especially under specified conditions.

Other Word Forms

• behavioral adjective
• interbehavior noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of behavior¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; behave ( def. ) + -ior (on model of havior, variant of havor, from Middle French (h)avoir “a having,” ultimately from Latin habēre “to have”); replacing late Middle English behavoure, behaver; -or ¹ ( def. )

Idioms and Phrases

see on one's best behavior.

Synonym Study

Behavior, conduct, deportment, comportment refer to one's actions before or toward others, especially on a particular occasion. Behavior refers to actions usually measured by commonly accepted standards: His behavior at the party was childish. Conduct refers to actions viewed collectively, especially as measured by an ideal standard: Conduct is judged according to principles of ethics. Deportment is behavior related to a code or to an arbitrary standard: Deportment is guided by rules of etiquette. The teacher gave Susan a mark of B in deportment. Comportment is behavior as viewed from the standpoint of one's management of one's own actions: His comportment was marked by a quiet assurance.

Example Sentences

Yet Beijing chose to activate mechanisms that mobilize public opinion—indirectly shaping the behavior of businesses and consumers—and afford the government plausible deniability.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The study, published November 25 in Neuron, reports that behavior and internal conditions directly influence how visual information is processed.

Read more on Science Daily

Nearly 30 inmates, selected for good behavior, donned tuxedos with pink boutonnieres and waited as daughters, some dressed in formal gowns, were led into the prison’s Bible college transformed into a makeshift dance hall.

Read more on Salon

It’s a notable constrast with his immediate predecessor’s far more conventional behavior.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

These lingering wolf genes appear to have influenced characteristics such as body size, scent abilities, and aspects of behavior.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• act 
• action 
• attitude 
• conduct 
• demeanor 
• management 
• nature 
• performance 
• practice 
• presence 
• role 
• style