normalcy
Americannoun
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Normalcy has been used as a general term for the political climate in the United States in the early 1920s.
Etymology
Origin of normalcy
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How does normalcy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
In the early twentieth century, President Warren Harding popularized the word normalcy with his slogan, "Return to normalcy." Harding was referring getting back to normal life after World War I. Since then, the word has been used often to mean "normality." Normalcy is a state of being normal, usual, or expected. When something returns to a state of normalcy, it is returning to the way that it ought to be. It is another word for normality. Some people believe that normalcy should not be used because the word normality is more formally correct, but in the U.S., you'll often see normalcy used. When it comes to choosing one, take your pick. Though Harding's slogan made the word more common, it originates in the field of mathematics.
Vocabulary lists containing normalcy
This Week In Culture: March 21–27, 2020
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Words Coined or Popularized by Presidents
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Ben Zimmer's 30 Great American Words
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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.
Guthrie did not mention the situation with her mother’s abduction, but indicated her game show duties will be another step toward normalcy.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
Others watch the same few movies downloaded on their tablets or look for ways to retain any sense of normalcy.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
The operation was meant to help restore the flow of oil and the global economy's eventual return to normalcy by guiding stranded ships out of the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
I continued with work and friendships, maintaining the appearance of normalcy even as something private broke again and again.
From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026
Some semblance of normalcy returned to his face.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
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.
