normalization
Britishnoun
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the act or process of normalizing
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social welfare the policy of offering mentally or physically handicapped people patterns, conditions, and experiences of everyday life as close as possible to those of nonhandicapped people, by not segregating them physically, socially, and administratively from the rest of society
Explanation
Taking something that's out of whack or atypical and bringing it back to an ordinary state is normalization. When two countries in conflict agree to sign a truce, it signifies the normalization of their relationship. Normalization is often used in a political context, for relations between nations, but you can use it for anything that's returned to normal after going off the rails. The normalization of a new parent's sleep schedule can sometimes take years. Another way to use this word is to mean "treating something bizarre as though it's normal." You may be shocked at the normalization of foul language on television — and dismayed at your family's normalization of eating dinner at 4:30 p.m.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I don’t see a normalization of the tanker market anytime soon,” and charter rates are likely to remain elevated, said Lee Klaskow, a senior transportation and logistics analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026
The Abraham Accords, a set of agreements brokered under Trump in 2020, govern the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and countries that have historically been hostile to it.
From Barron's • May 25, 2026
The lawsuit comes at a time when there is increasing concern of surveillance in public places, and privacy advocates have rallied against the normalization of surveillance.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
The normalization of being chronically online makes it hard to gauge when phone use becomes addictive, but according to consultant psychologist Darren O’Reilley, addiction should be considered as a restructuring of priorities.
From Slate • May 12, 2026
“You help me with this new normalization campaign, and I’ll help you with that paper you almost failed.”
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
