Norman

American  

[nawr-muhn] / ˈnɔr mən /

noun

1. a member of that branch of the Northmen or Scandinavians who in the 10th century conquered Normandy.

2. Also called Norman French.  one of the mixed Scandinavian and French people who inhabited Normandy and conquered England in 1066.

3. a native or inhabitant of Normandy.

4. Norman French.

5. Jessye 1945–2019, U.S. operatic soprano.

6. a city in central Oklahoma.

7. a male given name.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Normans.

2. noting or pertaining to a variety of Romanesque architecture built by the Normans, especially in England after 1066.

Norman ¹ British  

/ ˈnɔːmən /

noun

1. (in the Middle Ages) a member of the people of Normandy descended from the 10th-century Scandinavian conquerors of the country and the native French

2. a native or inhabitant of Normandy

3. another name for Norman French

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Normans, esp the Norman kings of England, the Norman people living in England, or their dialect of French

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of Normandy or its inhabitants

3. denoting, relating to, or having the style of Romanesque architecture used in Britain from the Norman Conquest until the 12th century. It is characterized by the rounded arch, the groin vault, massive masonry walls, etc

Norman ² British  

/ ˈnɔːmən /

noun

1. Greg. born 1955, Australian golfer: winner of the British Open (1986, 1993)

2. Jessye (ˈdʒɛsɪ). born 1945, US soprano: noted for her interpretations of Wagner and Mahler

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• non-Norman
  noun
• pre-Norman
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Norman

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French Normant, from Old Norse Northmathr “Northman”

Example Sentences

The book is full of fascinating trivia, but Mr. Norman, though dependable with places and dates, is incapable of breathing life into the well-known.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

As Philip Norman relates in “Mr. Moonlight,” Epstein wasn’t around at the band’s genesis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

Norman Esslemont, who owns a clothes shop in Aberdeen city centre, has one main area of focus for whoever is successful in the by-election.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

And because the storyline called for employees who already knew one another, actors had to memorize years of shared backstory in case Norman asked about their history.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

In any case, Norman Bowker’s letter had an effect.

From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien