normal
NAW-muhl
Normal (adjective) means Usual, typical, or expected; conforming to what is standard. Example: “After the holiday, everything went back to normal and the children returned to school.”
adjective
1
Usual, typical, or expected; conforming to what is standard.
"After the holiday, everything went back to normal and the children returned to school."
"It's completely normal to feel nervous before a job interview."
"Traffic is heavier than normal today because of the roadworks."
2
Healthy or functioning as expected, especially in a medical sense.
"The doctor said my test results were normal, so there was nothing to worry about."
"The baby's weight and height are both normal for her age."
"Her blood pressure readings were all normal."
noun
1
A line or direction that is perpendicular to a surface or curve.
"In geometry class we drew the normal to the line at the point where it touches the curve."
"A ray of light reflects from the mirror at the same angle on either side of the normal."
"The engineer calculated the normal to the curved surface."
How to use normal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe usual, expected, or standard state of things — not unusual or abnormal.
Common mistake
"Normal" and "average" aren't identical — average is a calculated midpoint, while normal usually implies "as expected" or "healthy."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
back to normal
a normal life
perfectly normal
above/below normal
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Word forms
- Plural
- normals
- Comparative
- more normal, normaler, normaller
- Superlative
- most normal, normalest, normallest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After the holiday, everything went back to _____ and the children returned to school.
Etymology
From Latin "normalis," meaning "made according to a carpenter's square," and later "according to a rule." The modern sense of "usual" or "healthy" developed in the 1800s as scientists began measuring things like height and blood pressure and calling the common values "normal."
Class of 1800
normal joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →
convention
rule
pattern
formula
average
medial
basic
bog-standard
common
commonplace
common-and-garden
common-or-garden
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for normal
See all rhymes for normal →Frequently asked questions
What does “normal” mean?
The word “normal” means usual, typical, or expected; conforming to what is standard. In plain terms, the usual, expected, or standard state of things — not unusual or abnormal.
How do you pronounce “normal”?
“Normal” is pronounced NAW-muhl (/ˈnoɹ.məl/ in IPA).
How do you use “normal” in a sentence?
Here is “normal” used in a sentence: “It's completely normal to feel nervous before a job interview.”
What is another word for “normal”?
Words with a similar meaning to “normal” include average, medial, basic, bog-standard, common and commonplace.
What is the opposite of “normal”?
The opposite of “normal” — its antonyms — are conspicuous, different, egregious, exceptional and historic.
What part of speech is “normal”?
Depending on how it is used, “normal” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “normal” come from?
The word “normal” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Latin.
Is “normal” a common word?
“Normal” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between normal and norm?
'Normal' is an adjective describing something usual, typical or expected, as in 'a normal day'. A 'norm' is a noun meaning an accepted standard or pattern of behaviour that people generally follow. Something normal fits the norm. One describes how things are; the other names the standard they are measured against.
What is the opposite of normal?
The most common opposite is abnormal, meaning away from what is usual or expected. Depending on the sentence, other opposites include unusual, strange, odd or atypical. For example, an abnormal test result differs from a normal one. Each captures the idea of departing from what is standard or typical.
What is the difference between normalcy and normality?
Both nouns mean the state of being normal, and they are largely interchangeable. 'Normality' is the older and more widely used form, especially in British English. 'Normalcy' means exactly the same thing but is more common in American English. Choosing between them is mainly a matter of regional preference.
Is 'normal' a subjective word?
To an extent, yes. What counts as normal depends on the context, culture or group you are measuring against, so it can vary from place to place. In fields like science or medicine, however, 'normal' has more precise definitions, such as a normal temperature. Its meaning ranges from casual to technical.
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