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

Police responded to reports of anti-social behaviour involving a group of "several hundred young people" last weekend in Clapham, south London.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Many of the genes within these supergenes influence traits essential for survival and reproduction, including vision, hearing, and behaviour.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

After the Edwards' crisis, it launched a review of its culture, professing its intention to stamp out bad behaviour.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

The court heard the boy had been "shocked" after his grandfather warned him he could end up in prison if he did not change his behaviour.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Thereafter, the whistle alone will deal with trespassing or any other untoward behaviour.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel