nudge
n. countablen. a gentle push with your elbow to get someone's attention. It can also mean a small reminder or a way to encourage someone to make a choice without forcing them.
n. a light physical push, typically with the elbow, to attract attention or signal a person. In behavioral science and digital design, it refers to a subtle intervention intended to influence choice or behavior without restricting options.
She gave him a little nudge to wake him up.
The app sends a daily nudge to remind users to log their water intake.
Policy makers often use a gentle nudge, such as making organ donation the default option, to increase participation rates without mandating the behavior through law.
Circa 17th century, perhaps of North Germanic origin, related to Norwegian nugge, nyggje (“to push, rub, shove”), Icelandic nugga (“to rub, massage”), from the root of Proto-Germanic hnōjaną (“to smooth, join together”), from Proto-Indo-European kneh₂- (compare Ancient Greek κνάω (knáō, “to scratch, scrape”), source of English acnestis). Compare also Scots nodge (“to push, poke, nudge”), knidge (“to push, squeeze”), gnidge (“to rub, press, squeeze, bruise”), and knudge (“to squeeze, press down with the knuckles”), Saterland Frisian Nukke, Nuk (“a sudden push”), Middle Low German nucke, nücke, gnücke (“a sudden push, shock, impetus”). Compare also dialectal nuch (“to tremble”), Middle English nuchen (“to tremble”).
Often used with the verb 'give' in physical contexts or 'provide' in behavioral contexts.