norm
noun
a standard, model, or pattern.
norm
1 American
[nawrm]
/ nɔrm /
noun
-
norms
plural
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a standard, model, or pattern.
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general level or average.
Two cars per family is the norm in most suburban communities.
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a behavior pattern or trait considered typical of a particular social group.
The patients regained the norms of everyday life after their hospitalization.
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Sociology. a pattern or standard of behavior expected of each member of a social group.
In many countries, cultural norms result in women bearing primary responsibility for childcare.
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Education.
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a designated standard of average performance of people of a given age, background, etc.
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a standard based on the past average performance of a given individual.
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Mathematics.
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a real-valued, nonnegative function whose domain is a vector space, with properties such that the function of a vector is zero only when the vector is zero, the function of a scalar times a vector is equal to the absolute value of the scalar times the function of the vector, and the function of the sum of two vectors is less than or equal to the sum of the functional values of each vector. The norm of a real number is its absolute value.
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the greatest difference between two successive points of a given partition.
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Norm.
2
American
abbreviation
norm
1
British
/ nɔːm /
noun
-
an average level of achievement or performance, as of a group or person
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a standard of achievement or behaviour that is required, desired, or designated as normal
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sociol an established standard of behaviour shared by members of a social group to which each member is expected to conform
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maths
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the length of a vector expressed as the square root of the sum of the square of its components
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another name for mode
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geology the theoretical standard mineral composition of an igneous rock
Norm.
2
British
abbreviation
Norm
3
British
/ nɔːm /
noun
norm.
4
British
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of norm
First recorded in 1820–30; from Latin norma “carpenter's square, rule, pattern”
Explanation
A statistical average is called the norm. If you live in a town made up mostly of farmers but your trade is basket weaving, then you're outside the norm. The noun norm is from the Latin word norma, which was a carpenter's square or pattern used in construction to make regular corners. Now we use norm for anything that sets a standard. You can score within the norm on a standardized test, score above the norm on an IQ test, or fall below the norm in acceptable standards of dress if you wear a halter top and cut-off jeans to a formal ball.
Vocabulary lists containing norm
"The Hill We Climb," by Amanda Gorman
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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Divergent
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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.
See Examples For:
There are very rare reports about people getting pregnant in their late 40s, but data shows that this is far from the norm.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
Homeownership has long been the norm in Spain, where around three-quarters of households own their properties.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Household consumption is stuck at 39% of GDP, well below the 60% global norm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
The health secretary was also asked if treating patients in corridors was "becoming the norm".
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
As they rowed upstream in the warm summer dark, Ulbrickson saw that they were pulling flawlessly, with the exceptional grace and precision that was quickly becoming their norm.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
“I grew up with Uncle Norm. He told people that he changed my diapers, and I said, Uncle Norm — I was 3 years old!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2025
“Oh Norm. Please tell me this is not true.”
From Washington Post ● Sep. 15, 2021
"Our thoughts are with all of Norm’s friends and family today and… Thank you so much for the laughs, Norm. We’ll never, ever forget them."
From Fox News ● Sep. 15, 2021
“Oh my God what is even happening. Good bye, Norm. You were never not 100% hilarious.”
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 14, 2021
It possesses a spacious church, which has a fine Norm. recessed S. door.
From Somerset by G. W. Wade
It’s just before the midweek lunch rush at Langer’s Deli and owner Norm Langer is behind the already-busy sandwich counter inspecting a stack of newly sliced rye bread.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
Lawyers Norm Eisen, Mary Dohrmann and Steve Levin said in a statement Friday that the case "should never have been brought."
From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026
One called Norm Law, which has hired senior lawyers away from firms including Ropes & Gray and Sidley Austin, is powered by an AI company backed by Bain Capital and Blackstone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
"If Mr Hearn can be charged with a felony for touching the Reflecting Pool, every American is at risk", said Norm Eisen, one of Hearn's attorneys, speaking outside the courthouse on Thursday.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Now he didn't mention that to me, but one day I got a phone call from a man named Norm Lyons.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
“That’s not necessarily a bearish call, but just the norm. Since 1950, 10%+ corrections have occurred 0.8 times per year on average.”
From Barron's ● Nov. 11, 2025
"This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences."
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2025
"In these early epochs, the amount of gas around galaxies is so large that continuous star formation is the norm. But in this galaxy this process is not happening."
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2024
“The pandemic has changed that norm. And so we were trying to figure out what does that mean for us going forward?”
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 3, 2023
With hundreds still dying each day, “I just refuse to accept this as the norm. What are we doing wrong?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2022
Despite storage levels being below historical norms, the group said Europe’s gas system remains sufficiently flexible to meet winter demand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
The book challenged strict parenting norms of the time and in the following decades parents were offered more advice from an increasing range of voices.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
Despite all the public discourse around loneliness and the need to connect, the cold call violates some of the communication norms we’ve spent decades developing.
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2026
The norms between your husband and his brother were cemented far before you entered his life.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026
People who were gay, resisted gender norms, or engaged in interracial dating often found themselves involuntarily committed.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
