behaviour: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighFormal to neutral, used across academic, professional, and general contexts
Quick answer
What does “behaviour” mean?
the way in which a person, animal, or thing acts or conducts itself.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
the way in which a person, animal, or thing acts or conducts itself
the way in which a system, material, or machine operates under particular conditions; also, the way in which individuals interact within social or organizational contexts
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English uses 'behaviour', American English uses 'behavior'. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Similar in both variants. Slightly more formal in American English; slightly more common in everyday British usage (e.g., 'behavioural standards' vs. 'conduct standards').
Frequency
Higher frequency in British English across registers; American English shows slightly higher use of 'conduct' as a near-synonym in formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “behaviour” in a Sentence
behaviour of [noun]behaviour towards [noun]behaviour in [situation]behaviour that [clause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “behaviour” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The children were told to behaviour themselves properly.
- He behaviours quite differently around his colleagues.
American English
- The software is designed to behavior predictably under load.
- She behaviors with great professionalism in meetings.
adverb
British English
- He acted behaviourally inappropriate for the setting.
- The system responded behaviourally as expected.
American English
- She responded behaviorally consistent with earlier patterns.
- The model predicts behaviorally relevant outcomes.
adjective
British English
- The behavioural assessment took three hours.
- We need a behaviour-focused approach.
American English
- Behavioral economics is a growing field.
- The therapist used behavior modification techniques.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to professional conduct, consumer purchasing patterns, or organizational culture.
Academic
Used in psychology, sociology, economics (e.g., consumer behaviour), and biology (animal behaviour).
Everyday
Describes how people act, especially children or in social situations.
Technical
In computing: program or system behaviour; in physics: material behaviour under stress.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “behaviour”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “behaviour”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “behaviour”
- Incorrect: 'His behave is good.' (Use 'behaviour' or 'behaving').
- Spelling confusion: 'behavour' (UK) or 'behavier' (US).
- Using uncountable form with indefinite article: 'a behaviour' is acceptable only when referring to a specific type.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable when referring to general conduct. It can be countable when referring to specific types or instances (e.g., 'different behaviours observed in the study').
'Behaviour' refers to observable actions, while 'attitude' refers to internal feelings, beliefs, or predispositions that may influence behaviour.
Yes, especially in technical contexts (e.g., 'The behaviour of the algorithm', 'system behaviour'). It indicates how something functions or responds.
Use 'behaviour' for British English and 'behavior' for American English. The spelling difference does not change meaning or pronunciation significantly.
the way in which a person, animal, or thing acts or conducts itself.
Behaviour is usually formal to neutral, used across academic, professional, and general contexts in register.
Behaviour: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈheɪvjə/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈheɪvjər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “be on your best behaviour”
- “a pattern of behaviour”
- “behaviour modification”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BE-HAVE-YOUR-SELF: how you 'have' or carry yourself = your BEHAVIOUR.
Conceptual Metaphor
BEHAVIOUR IS A PATH (deviant behaviour, track record, line of conduct) / BEHAVIOUR IS A PERFORMANCE (act appropriately, stage behaviour).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'behaviour' LEAST appropriate?