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
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
Rosalind Resnick and Susie Archer2
: 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
Russell Schoch3
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Molly Higgins, WIRED, 23 Nov. 2024
More goods are expected to be imported into the US than normal for the remainder of this year as retailers face a potential resumption of the East Coast port strike, as well as tariff increases, the National Retail Federation said earlier this month.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
Jonathan Bing, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
Rather than imposing change, involve your team in shaping the new normal.
—Dan Gamble, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for normal 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
This gives you up to a $10 discount each month for two years (expires Dec. 2), where new members can receive either $5 off per month for the normal rate of the Visible plan or $10 off per month for the Visible+ plan during the first 24 months of service.
—Molly Higgins, WIRED, 23 Nov. 2024
More goods are expected to be imported into the US than normal for the remainder of this year as retailers face a potential resumption of the East Coast port strike, as well as tariff increases, the National Retail Federation said earlier this month.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
For the new normal to be economically sustainable, streamers need to do a better job of optimizing their viewers’ time and attention.
—Jonathan Bing, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
Rather than imposing change, involve your team in shaping the new normal.
—Dan Gamble, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for normal
Dictionary Entries Near normal
Cite this Entry
“Normal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/normal. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
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
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
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
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