normal

¹nor·mal

adjective \ˈnȯr-məl\

Definition of NORMAL

1

: perpendicular; especially : perpendicular to a tangent at a point of tangency

2

a : according with, constituting, or not deviating from a norm, rule, or principle

b : conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern

3

: occurring naturally <normal immunity>

4

a : of, relating to, or characterized by average intelligence or development

b : free from mental disorder : sane

5

a of a solution : having a concentration of one gram equivalent of solute per liter

b : containing neither basic hydroxyl nor acid hydrogen <normal silver phosphate>

c : not associated <normal molecules>

d : having a straight-chain structure <normal butyl alcohol>

6

of a subgroup : having the property that every coset produced by operating on the left by a given element is equal to the coset produced by operating on the right by the same element

7

: relating to, involving, or being a normal curve or normal distribution <normal approximation to the binomial distribution>

8

of a matrix : having the property of commutativity under multiplication by the transpose of the matrix each of whose elements is a conjugate complex number with respect to the corresponding element of the given matrix

— nor·mal·i·ty \nȯr-ˈma-lə-tē\ noun

— nor·mal·ly \ˈnȯr-mə-lē\ adverb

Examples of NORMAL

1. He had a normal childhood.
2. These little setbacks are a normal part of life.
3. a potato twice as big as normal size
4. Despite her illness, she was able to lead a normal life.
5. They had a normal, healthy baby.
6. Normal people don't react that way.

Origin of NORMAL

Latin normalis, from norma

First Known Use: circa 1696

Related to NORMAL

Synonyms

average, common, commonplace, cut-and-dried (also cut-and-dry), everyday, garden-variety, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, standard, standard-issue, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday

Antonyms

abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, odd, out-of-the-way, strange, unusual

Related Words

regular, typical, unextraordinary; familiar, homely, plain, plain-Jane, popular, vulgar; natural; customary, wonted; insignificant, trivial, unimportant; frequent, habitual; expected, predictable

Near Antonyms

curious, funny, peculiar, quaint, queer; aberrant, anomalous, atypical, irregular, untypical; rare, recherché, scarce; fantastic (also fantastical), phenomenal; bizarre, far-out, Kafkaesque, outrageous, outré, wacky (also whacky), way-out, weird, wild; eccentric, idiosyncratic, kooky (also kookie), nonconformist, oddball, offbeat, unconventional, unorthodox; freak, freakish; conspicuous, notable, novel, outstanding, prominent, salient, signal, striking, unexampled, unprecedented; singular, unique, unparalleled

See Synonym Discussion at regular

Rhymes with NORMAL

formal

²normal

noun

Definition of NORMAL

1

a : a normal line

b : the portion of a normal line to a plane curve between the curve and the x-axis

2

: one that is normal

3

: a form or state regarded as the norm : standard

Examples of NORMAL

1. Your blood pressure is higher than normal.
2. Let's hope everything returns to normal soon.
3. I'm glad that things are back to normal.
4. Oil prices are above normal.

First Known Use of NORMAL

circa 1738

Related to NORMAL

Synonyms

norm, average, par, standard

Related Words

golden mean, mean, median, middle; commonplace, ordinary, rule, run, status quo, usual; exemplar, representative

Near Antonyms

abnormality, anomaly, deviation, exception, rarity

Nor·mal

geographical name \ˈnȯr-məl\

Definition of NORMAL

town cen Illinois N of Bloomington pop 45,386