What does nourishment mean?
Nourishment means the food, energy, or other support that sustains life and promotes health. In its most literal sense, it refers to substances that the body needs for energy, growth, and repair, as in saying that a balanced diet provides good nourishment. The word can also describe the act of nourishing: providing someone or something with what is needed to remain healthy. Its meaning extends metaphorically to emotional, intellectual, or spiritual support, such as the nourishment provided by a close friendship or an inspiring community. Although nourishment often conveys a somewhat formal and thoughtful tone, it is widely used in educational, health, religious, and literary contexts. The related words nourish, nutritious, and nutrition all come from the same Latin-based vocabulary of feeding and sustaining, reflecting the word's central association with the processes that keep living things vigorous and flourishing.
nounThe act or process of supplying the body with the food or other substances necessary for health and growth. It can also refer to food or sustenance itself.
- Food, drink, or other material that sustains life or health.
- The act or process of supplying or receiving the substances necessary for health, growth, and energy.
"The shelter provided warmth, shelter, and nourishment to the exhausted travelers."
"A balanced diet provides the nourishment needed for a child's healthy development."
"The organization's work includes both practical assistance and emotional nourishment for families in crisis."
The plural is occasional and is used when referring to different kinds or supplies of nourishment.
"The shelter offered simple but nourishing meals and other nourishments for the children."
Nourishment comes from the same root as nourish, and its meaning has grown from literally feeding the body to supporting whatever sustains a person or thing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nourishment come from?
Nourishment entered English in the late Middle English period as a derivative of nourish, which came through Old French from Latin nutrire, meaning to feed or nurture. The suffix -ment forms a noun indicating an action or process, so nourishment originally referred to the act of nourishing before also developing the sense of the food or material that provides sustenance. Related English forms include nourish, nutritious, and nutrition, all reflecting the same Latin root.
How nourishment is actually used
Nourishment is formal but broadly understandable. It can describe physical nourishment, spiritual or emotional nourishment, and, metaphorically, the support that enables continued growth or vitality.
Easily confused with nourishment
Nourishment can refer to the food or other material that sustains the body, while nutrition more specifically concerns the process by which the body uses nutrients and the quality of one's diet.