nourishment
Americannoun
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something that nourishes; food, nutriment, or sustenance.
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the act of nourishing. nourishing.
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the state of being nourished.
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a process, system, method, etc., of providing or administering nourishment.
a treatise on the nourishment of international trade.
noun
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the act or state of nourishing
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a substance that nourishes; food; nutriment
Usage
What does nourishment mean? Nourishment is something that nourishes—does or provides what’s needed for someone or something to be healthy and to grow and develop.It can also refer to the act of nourishing or the state of being nourished. Nourish and nourishment are most commonly used in relation to food. Healthy food provides nourishment. Parents try to provide nourishment for their children by feeding them healthy foods. Sometimes, food is said to nourish more than the body, as in A warm, home-cooked meal is nourishment for the body and the spirit. However, nourishment can be used in many other contexts, including those that don’t involve food, as in educational nourishment.In all of these senses, nourishment is a somewhat formal and perhaps poetic word—it usually refers to something that serves to sustain rather than just feed.Example: As a mother, it’s my job to provide physical, mental, and emotional nourishment for my kids.
Other Word Forms
- nonnourishment noun
- overnourishment noun
- renourishment noun
- self-nourishment noun
Etymology
Origin of nourishment
1375–1425; late Middle English norysshement < Middle French norissement. See nourish, -ment
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” isn’t a food movie by any stretch, but the moments that lodged themselves in my memory all involved nourishment — offered, stolen, shared, withheld.
From Salon
Daily nourishment can be uncomplicated; reverent eating doesn’t need to mean overabundance.
From Salon
If mealtimes with your child sometimes feel more like negotiations than nourishment, you aren't alone.
From BBC
Food is no longer just nourishment — it’s presentation.
From Salon
Tracing his journey from raw culinary explorer to seasoned cultural ambassador, this story honors Bourdain’s fearless curiosity and his profound understanding that food is not just nourishment but a sacred act of connection.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
