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.
North Korea has historically sought a drawdown of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea, a removal of American nuclear weapons from the region and a normalization of diplomatic ties with Washington.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
The recovery is expected to be driven by the normalization of supply chains, lower oil prices and stronger global economic growth, which the IEA estimates will accelerate by half a percentage point to 3.4%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Asked whether Saudi Arabia was considering joining the Abraham Accords, the US-brokered normalization agreements with Israel, Trump said: "We haven't talked, no."
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
A partial normalization building up since mid-June “has effectively collapsed,” they added.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 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.
