normal

1 of 2

adjective

nor·​mal ˈnȯr-məl 

1

a

: conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern : characterized by that which is considered usual, typical, or routine

normal working hours

under normal circumstances

It was just a normal, average day.

He had a normal childhood.

Their reaction to the news was normal and expected.

The noise made it impossible to carry on a normal conversation.

Challenges are a normal part of life; remind yourself of that—and keep going.

—Gabrielle Gayagoy

b

: according with, constituting, or not deviating from a norm, rule, procedure, or principle

The normal spelling rule is "i before e, except after c."

They filed the paperwork in the normal way.

The plane was able to make a normal approach and landing.

… is your home office either your principal place of work or a place where you meet with customers or clients in the normal course of business?

—Rosalind Resnick and Susie Archer

2

: occurring naturally

normal immunity

Cornell researchers showed that monarch butterflies that fed on leaves dusted with pollen from this [genetically] modified corn grew less and had higher mortality than larvae that fed on leaves dusted with normal pollen.

—Russell Schoch

3

a

: approximating the statistical average or norm

The west coast had normal rainfall for the season.

normal scores for the tenth grade algebra exam

a country's normal death rate

Their insulin and blood sugar levels are within normal range.

—Moises Velasquez-Manoff

b

: generally free from physical or mental impairment or dysfunction : exhibiting or marked by healthy or sound functioning

normal reflexes

Fifteen normal subjects and 40 asthmatics of variable severity were studied.

—J. Bousquet et al.

However, my experience is that there are many, many normal people with no psychiatric illness who have music playing in their head almost all the time or all the time.

—Keith W. Roach

c

: not exhibiting defect or irregularity

normal and malignant cells

a normal heart

d

: within a range considered safe, healthy, or optimal

normal blood pressure

normal lab tests

4

a

of a solution : having a concentration of one gram equivalent of solute per liter

b

: containing neither basic hydroxyl nor acid hydrogen

normal silver phosphate

c

: not associated

normal molecules

d

: having a straight-chain structure

normal butyl alcohol

5

: perpendicular

especially : perpendicular to a tangent (see tangent entry 1 sense 3) at a point of tangency

6

of a subgroup : having the property that every coset produced by operating on the left by a given element is equal to the coset produced by operating on the right by the same element

7

: relating to, involving, or being a normal curve or normal distribution

normal approximation to the binomial distribution

8

of a matrix : having the property of commutativity under multiplication by the transpose of the matrix (see matrix sense 5a) each of whose elements is a conjugate (see conjugate entry 1 sense 2b) complex number with respect to the corresponding element of the given matrix

normality

nȯr-ˈma-lə-tē 

noun

normally

ˈnȯr-mə-lē 

adverb

normal

2 of 2

noun

1

: a form or state regarded as the norm : standard

2

: one that is normal

3

a

: a normal line

b

: the portion of a normal line to a plane curve between the curve and the x-axis

Synonyms

Adjective

• average
• common
• commonplace
• cut-and-dried
• cut-and-dry
• everyday
• garden-variety
• ordinary
• prosaic
• routine
• run-of-the-mill
• standard
• standard-issue
• unexceptional
• unremarkable
• usual
• workaday

Noun

• average
• norm
• par
• standard

Choose the Right Synonym for normal

regular, normal, typical, natural mean being of the sort or kind that is expected as usual, ordinary, or average.

regular stresses conformity to a rule, standard, or pattern.

the club's regular monthly meeting

normal implies lack of deviation from what has been discovered or established as the most usual or expected.

normal behavior for a two-year-old

typical implies showing all important traits of a type, class, or group and may suggest lack of strong individuality.

a typical small town

natural applies to what conforms to a thing's essential nature, function, or mode of being.

the natural love of a mother for her child

Examples of normal in a Sentence

Adjective

He had a normal childhood.

These little setbacks are a normal part of life.

a potato twice as big as normal size

Despite her illness, she was able to lead a normal life.

They had a normal, healthy baby.

Normal people don't react that way.

Noun

Your blood pressure is higher than normal.

Let's hope everything returns to normal soon.

I'm glad that things are back to normal.

Oil prices are above normal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In many ways, in other words, her campaign is normal. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024

And then to see somebody who not only looks normal but can command a group in 10 minutes, who can befriend somebody in 30 seconds, get people to fall in love with him, to not care if somebody hates him. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2024

Noun

The feeling of being utterly overwhelmed appears to be the new normal for leaders around the world. —Martin Gutmann, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Late Friday evening, or possibly overnight into Saturday, another cold front will send temperatures back to mid-October normals. —Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Latin normālis "made according to a carpenter's square, forming a right angle," from norma "carpenter's square" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at norm

Noun

borrowed from New Latin normālis, noun derivative of Latin normālis "forming a right angle" — more at normal entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Noun

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Phrases Containing normal

• average/normal/general/usual run of
• in the usual/normal/ordinary course of business
• normal curve
• normal distribution
• normal/ordinary course of events
• normal school
• returned to normal
• reverted to normal
• someone's normal self
• under/in normal circumstances

Kids Definition

normal

1 of 2 adjective

nor·​mal ˈnȯr-məl 

1

: perpendicular entry 1 sense 2

2

: of the regular or usual kind

3

a

: relating to or marked by average intelligence or development

b

: free from sickness of body or mind : sane, sound

normally

-mə-lē 

adverb

normal

2 of 2 noun

1

: a normal line

2

: a person or thing that is normal

3

: a form or state regarded as the usual : average

Medical Definition

normal

1 of 2 adjective

nor·​mal ˈnȯr-məl 

1

a

: conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern : characterized by that which is considered usual, typical, or routine

a normal childhood

Great progress has been made in the past few years in the ability to differentiate normal aging-related memory changes from the impairments associated with dementia, including Alzheimer disease …

—C. Munro Cullum et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association

b

: approximating the statistical average or norm

normal cases of infectious disease

a country's normal birth rate

2

a

: generally free from physical or mental impairment or dysfunction : exhibiting or marked by healthy or sound functioning

normal reflexes

Fifteen normal subjects and 40 asthmatics of variable severity were studied.

—J. Bousquet et al., American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

b

: not exhibiting defect or irregularity

a normal spine

normal cells

c

: within a range considered safe, healthy, or optimal

normal blood pressure

normal lab results

3

a

of a solution : having a concentration of one gram equivalent of solute per liter

b

: containing neither basic hydrogen nor acid hydrogen

normal phosphate of silver

c

: not associated

normal molecules

d

: having a straight-chain structure

normal pentane

normally

ˈnȯr-mə-lē 

adverb

normal

2 of 2 noun

: a subject who is normal

Geographical Definition

Normal

geographical name

Nor·​mal ˈnȯr-məl 

town north of Bloomington in central Illinois population 52,497