good behavior
Americannoun
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satisfactory, proper, or polite conduct.
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conduct conformable to law; orderly conduct.
The convict's sentence was reduced for good behavior.
-
proper fulfillment of the duties of an office, especially a public office.
The incumbent could not be discharged during good behavior.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sugary and fatty foods have become common at birthday parties, school events, sports activities, and even as rewards for good behavior.
From Science Daily ● May 21, 2026
Criteria for release eligibility included having served most of a sentence for a nonviolent crime and a record of good behavior, the Catholic Herald reported.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026
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.
From Salon ● Nov. 30, 2025
Note: Projected remaining sentences reflect BOP estimates that account for any credit for time served or good behavior as of Oct.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2025
Only on rare occasions did their good behavior falter: for example, when peas were unexpectedly served at luncheon.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
