A nonlinear optical material γ-glycine single crystal was grown for the first time in the presence of sodium bromide by slow cooling method. The solubility of the material was analyzed gravimetrically. Metastable zonewidth was studied by the polythermal method. The form of crystallization was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal of γ-glycine were found to crystallize in hexagonal crystal system. The presence of all the functional groups of the γ-glycine was confirmed by FT-IR and FT-Raman spectral analysis. Thermal properties of the grown crystal were determined by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), which indicated the thermal stability (up to 210 °C) and the melting point (257 °C). The grown crystal was subjected to Vickers microhardness test. The dielectric response of the sample is studied as a function of frequency and temperature. The optical transparency and lower cut-off value of UV transmission (223 nm) were ascertained by recording a UV–visible spectrum of γ-glycine crystal. The second-order nonlinear optical property was confirmed by Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.