normalize

[ nawr-muh-lahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, nor·mal·ized, nor·mal·iz·ing.

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)

, nor·mal·ized, nor·mal·iz·ing.

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 Words From

• nor·mal·i·za·tion [nawr-m, uh, -lahy-, zey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• de·nor·mal·i·za·tion noun
• o·ver·nor·mal·i·za·tion noun
• o·ver·nor·mal·ize verb (used with object) overnormalized overnormalizing
• re·nor·mal·i·za·tion noun
• re·nor·mal·ize verb (used with object) renormalized renormalizing
• un·nor·mal·ized adjective
• un·nor·mal·iz·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of normalize¹

First recorded in 1860–65; normal + -ize

Example Sentences

“I want to take this opportunity to ask other people to also listen to Autistic people and to normalize changing their minds,” she writes.

From Washington Post

I don’t mean to normalize it, because I’m not crazy about the system as it exists.

From Time

Ogilvy’s chief people officer Helen Matthews agrees the pandemic has normalized the conversation around flexible working, and that includes changing the narrative around it being the domain of women.

From Digiday

About a quarter of women who had this pregnancy complication — 34 women — went on to have CAC, even when post-pregnancy blood sugar levels normalized, researchers report.

From Science News

Business leaders can also help end the stigma that surrounds mental health and normalize discussions around well-being, employee assistance programs and resources.

From Time

President Obama defends his decision to normalize ties with Cuba and defends his diplomatic record.

From The Daily Beast

This measure is largely to protect children from the advertising of drugs, which many feel would normalize the experience.

From The Daily Beast

“I started Exo with the mission to normalize consumption of bugs” says Gabi Lewis, co-founder of Exo Protein.

From The Daily Beast

Whether we decide to follow this path, the best we can do to help people like Joni is to normalize and humanize atheism.

From The Daily Beast

The argument for open carry goes that the ubiquity of guns will normalize them in the public eye.

From The Daily Beast

No attempt has been made to correct or normalize printed botanical names.

From Project Gutenberg

No attempt has been made to correct or normalize the printed spelling of French or Italian names or words.

From Project Gutenberg

No attempt has been made to correct or normalize the printed accentuation or spelling of French names or words.

From Project Gutenberg

Transcriber's Note: Minor corrections were made to normalize spelling and punctuation.

From Project Gutenberg

No attempt has been made to correct or normalize all of the printed spelling of French names or words.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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