PsychologyJuly 13, 2026

nurturance

/ˈnɜːrtʃərəns/

Definition

The quality of providing care, protection, and support to others, often associated with fostering growth and well-being.

Etymology

Derived from the Middle English 'nurture,' which traces back to the Old French 'nourriture' and the Latin 'nutritura' (a nursing or feeding). It evolved to describe the process of rearing or training, eventually encompassing the broader behavioral tendency to care for others.

In the news

In this study, researchers evaluated nurturance as a trait in potential friends to see if humans evolved to prioritize partners who demonstrate care and social support. It serves as an ancestral marker of someone capable of contributing to long-term cooperation and collective survival.

The evolutionary reasons behind who we choose as friends

Read the full article ↗

PsyPost

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.