What does upbringing mean?
Upbringing means the raising and education of a child, together with the lasting influence of that process on a person's character. The word commonly describes the conditions and guidance a child receives at home, including the values, habits, emotional patterns, and behavior that develop as a result. It is often used with modifiers such as strict, loving, religious, rural, or unconventional, showing that upbringing is understood as a significant force in shaping identity. Although it primarily refers to childhood, the word can also suggest broader formative experiences and their lifelong consequences. In everyday use, “upbringing” is natural and neutral, ranging from personal description to social and cultural analysis. Its connection with the phrase “brought up” makes it especially useful when discussing how family environments, customs, beliefs, and discipline influence the person a child becomes.
nounThe process of raising and educating a person during childhood, especially the values, habits, and behavior that result.
- The process and conditions by which a child is raised and educated, particularly the influence this has on a person's character, values, and behavior.
"She credits her strict upbringing for her discipline and self-confidence."
"His caring upbringing gave him a strong sense of responsibility."
"The novel explores how a restrictive religious upbringing can shape a person's identity."
The plural is grammatically regular but relatively uncommon; it is mainly used when comparing different childhood environments or formative experiences.
"The book examines contrasting upbringings across three generations."
Upbringing is a compact snapshot of childhood: it literally means being “brought up,” while pointing to the lasting values and habits that remain.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How upbringing is actually used
Generally neutral in register. It commonly refers to childhood development but may be used more broadly for the formative influence of a person's early life on later attitudes and conduct.