Norm

/nɔːm/ · noun

Meaning

That which is normal or typical..

Definitions by Sense

1. That which is normal or typical.
2. A rule that is imposed by regulations and/or socially enforced by members of a community.
3. (philosophy, computer science) A sentence with non-descriptive meaning, such as a command, permission, or prohibition.
4. (mathematics) A function which satisfies a particular set of formal conditions, created to generalize the notion of the length of a vector. Formally, a real-valued function on a vector space, generally denoted v↦|v| or v↦‖v‖, that satisfies the following properties:
5. (mathematics) Any of several generalizations of the above: a field norm, ideal norm, etc.
6. (chess) A high level of performance in a chess tournament, several of which are required for a player to receive a title.
7. (mathematical analysis) To endow (a vector space, etc.) with a norm.

Example Sentences

Unemployment is the norm in this part of the country.

[…] the world needs a constitutional moment that will generate new institutions and actuate a new norm.

"This shocking report proves once again that we urgently need a radical shake-up of hospital care," said Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society. "Given that people with dementia occupy a quarter of hospital beds and that many leave in worse health than when they were admitted, it is unacceptable that training in dementia care is not the norm."

Projects such as the King's Cross refurbishment, Waterloo blockade, Scottish electrification and the Borders show that the industry can do wonderful work - but that must become the norm, not the exception.

For most people, this sacrifice is made easily and instinctively. Not so for otroverts, who are neither willing nor able to passively adopt the social scripts that others do. To the otrovert, who is constantly engaged with the choices and consequences of their individual life, social norms follow a circular logic: […]

Not eating your children is just one of those societal norms.

Peer pressure helps explain why people in Europe weigh less than Americans: They follow different social norms, like eating only at mealtimes instead of snacking throughout the day.

Synonyms for norm

Antonyms for norm

Related Words

Word Forms

• norms
• norming
• normed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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