nurturance

N1U1R1T1U1R1A1N1C3E1
UK/ˈnəːtʃəɹəns/

noun

The provision of physical and emotional care.

UncommonFirst used 20th c.Scrabble 12
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Meanings

nounnurturance (countable and uncountable, plural nurturances)

plural nurturances

  1. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe provision of physical and emotional care.First known use 20th c.

    Rousseauist responsiveness and nurturance automatically flip over into their opposites.

    1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae
  2. countableuncountableThe act of supporting, fostering.
    1 more example

    The colossal stupidity of the one-party strategy has had three disastrous effects: the nurturance of right-wing Republican homophobes, the weakening and silencing of pro-gay, progressive Republicans, and the allowance of lacklustrer, liberal Democrats to exploit us at their will and ignore us at their convenience.

    1991 February 4, David Lafontaine, Patrick Ward, “Why Our Future Is In The GOP”, in Gay Community News, volume 18, number 28, page 5

Origin

From nurture + -ance.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German mütterliche Umsorgung, liebevolles Kümmern
  • mütterliche Umsorgungprovision of care
  • liebevolles Kümmernprovision of care
  • Hegungprovision of care
Spanish crianza, criación
  • crianzaprovision of care
  • criaciónprovision of care
Cite this entry
APA

nurturance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nurturance

MLA

“nurturance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nurturance. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nurturance,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nurturance.

Source: nurturance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.