normalize

especially British, nor·mal·ise

[nawr-muh-lahyz]

verb (used with object)

normalized, normalizing 

1. to make normal.

   Traditional Chinese medicine uses ginseng to normalize blood pressure.

2. to cause (something previously considered abnormal or unacceptable) to be treated as normal.

   I have to resist the impulse to normalize her eccentricities.

3. to establish or resume (relations) in a normal manner, as between countries.

4. Statistics.,  to mathematically transform or adjust (the values in a data set) so that they fit a standard measure or scale, such as by making all the values fall between 0 and 1.

   Data was normalized before analysis.

5. Metallurgy.,  to heat (a steel alloy) to a suitable temperature above the transformation range and then cool it in still air at ambient temperature.

verb (used without object)

normalized, normalizing 

1. to become normal; resume a normal state.

   Prices soon normalized after the war.

normalize

/ ˈnɔːməˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to bring or make into the normal state

2. to bring into conformity with a standard

3. to heat (steel) above a critical temperature and allow it to cool in air to relieve internal stresses; anneal

Other Word Forms

• normalization noun
• denormalization noun
• overnormalization noun
• overnormalize verb (used with object)
• renormalization noun
• renormalize verb (used with object)
• unnormalized adjective
• unnormalizing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of normalize¹

First recorded in 1860–65; normal + -ize

Example Sentences

Around 152,000 more cars were shipped than in the same quarter a year earlier, buoyed by the company’s normalized inventory position.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Antisemitism has become much more mainstream and normalized. People encounter it at schools, workplaces and hospitals, where it just wasn’t present before.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Television sketch parodies, along with op-ed responses about how we normalize addiction, weren’t far behind.

Read more on Salon

Even contemplating the fight in these terms risks normalizing all the corruption and abuse that’s taking place throughout our society at the hands of this administration.

Read more on Salon

They get up feeling accepting and inclusive and normalizing, and they go to bed that way.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assign 
• conduct 
• distribute 
• establish 
• file 
• place 
• plan