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.
Baqaei condemned the threat towards Oman, calling it "a worrying sign of the normalisation of anarchy and intimidation in international relations".
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
He explains that, months before the attack, Cuban and US officials were discreetly exploring a possible normalisation of relations, in anticipation of a potential second term for Bill Clinton.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
"These cannot be improved in the short term, and it is necessary to assess whether the results of product launches and sales normalisation will translate into actual profits," Yoshida told AFP.
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
He added that "traders have had to rethink the assumptions on the trajectory of the conflict and the normalisation of vessel flows through Hormuz that had been made over the last couple of sessions".
From Barron's • May 8, 2026
He said he had asked the prime minister to "guarantee the normalisation of antisemitism in the UK will stop, and that there will be zero tolerance".
From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026
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.
