good nature
C1Formal, literary, appreciative; occasionally informal when describing a person.
Definition
Meaning
A cheerful, kind, patient and tolerant disposition; an innate pleasantness of character.
The quality of being agreeable, cooperative, and not easily angered or offended, often characterized by willingness to help others.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Good nature" describes a stable character trait rather than a temporary mood. It is typically attributive, used as a compound noun (e.g., 'her good nature') or in the adjectival form 'good-natured'. It implies a degree of resilience against provocation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical. The hyphenated adjectival form 'good-natured' is standard in both.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/literary in modern British English; retains a warm, somewhat traditional connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Moderate and comparable frequency in both dialects. More common in descriptive prose than in casual conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[possessive] + good nature (e.g., her good nature)verb + with + good nature (e.g., accepted with good nature)adjective + good nature (e.g., unflappable good nature)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take advantage of someone's good nature”
- “A testament to his/her good nature”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in references to company culture or leadership style: 'The manager's good nature fostered a collaborative team.'
Academic
Rare in hard sciences. Possible in psychology, literature, or sociology describing character traits.
Everyday
Most common in personal description, often with a note of admiration or slight surprise at patience: 'I don't know how you put up with that—it's a credit to your good nature.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- It's not a verb.
American English
- It's not a verb.
adverb
British English
- 'Good-naturedly' is the adverb: He smiled good-naturedly at their teasing.
American English
- 'Good-naturedly' is the adverb: She laughed good-naturedly at the joke on her.
adjective
British English
- He's a remarkably good-natured chap, always first to offer a brew.
- Her good-natured response defused the tension in the room.
American English
- She's so good-natured about the constant delays.
- It was a good-natured rivalry between the two schools.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My dog has a very good nature. He is friendly to everyone.
- She is a person of good nature.
- Everyone likes him because of his good nature and helpfulness.
- She accepted the criticism with good nature.
- His essential good nature meant he was quick to forgive and forget the slight.
- They exploited her good nature, constantly asking for favours she found hard to refuse.
- Beneath his curmudgeonly exterior lay a fundamental good nature that emerged in moments of crisis.
- Her proverbial good nature was finally stretched to its limit by their relentless demands.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'good-natured' golden retriever: always friendly, patient, and hard to anger, no matter what.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE AS CHARACTER (a person's fundamental makeup is a force of nature); GOODNESS AS WARMTH (a good-natured person radiates pleasantness).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as "хорошая природа".
- The closest conceptual equivalents are "добродушие" or "кроткий нрав".
- Avoid confusing with "good mood" (хорошее настроение), which is temporary.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a direct address (e.g., 'Hello, good nature!' – incorrect).
- Confusing 'good nature' (noun phrase) with 'good-natured' (adjective).
- Using it to describe a single act of kindness rather than a character trait.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'good nature' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word open compound noun. The related adjective is hyphenated: 'good-natured'.
Yes, it is commonly used to describe pets (e.g., a dog of good nature) and, by figurative extension, occasionally the general atmosphere of a place or event.
'Kindness' refers to individual acts or the quality of being kind. 'Good nature' is a broader, more inherent character trait that encompasses kindness, patience, cheerfulness, and tolerance as a default state.
It is not obsolete, but it has a slightly formal or literary tone. In casual speech, people might simply say 'he's really good-natured' or 'she's very easy-going'.