new normal

American

[noo nawr-muhl, nyoo] / ˈnu ˈnɔr məl, ˈnju /

noun

a current situation, social custom, etc., that is different from what has been experienced or done before but is expected to become usual or typical.

We are facing a new normal that includes raging forest fires and prolonged drought.

Etymology

Origin of new normal

First recorded in 1920–25

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:

new normal

Volkswagen executives have repeatedly stressed the need for the company to slim down as collapsing sales in China have started to look less like a blip and more like a new normal.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

Since COVID, remote work has become the new normal for many Americans.

From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2026

You are now living in your new normal, and your priorities have shifted.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026

When smart reforms prove that they deliver stronger campaigns and majority winners, they can become the new normal.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026

The craziness of my life as a top student-athlete became my new normal.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023