the norm

noun

1

: an average level of development or achievement

She scored well above/below the norm in math.

2

: something (such as a behavior or way of doing something) that is usual or expected

Smaller families have become the norm.

Examples of the norm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the point in the NFL season where rookies typically hit what’s characterized as the rookie wall, seeing as how their bodies aren’t accustomed to playing more than 12 regular season games since that’s the norm for college programs. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026

However, these historic examples may not apply here because of how interconnected Huang was with the company's daily operations, with many more direct reports above the norm. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 12 Nov. 2026

Those efforts helped bring about California’s Proposition 12, a landmark law passed in 2018 that bans certain forms of extreme confinement, including tiny crates that used to be the norm in veal production. — Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 11 Nov. 2026

Some cinematographers are making peace with the notion that traditional filmmaking will become a specialized niche product, akin to artisanal pottery or handmade furniture, rather than the norm for everyday entertainment. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Nov. 2026

Rhymes for the norm

• brainstorm
• conform
• deform
• firestorm
• hailstorm
• inform
• landform
• lukewarm
• perform
• planform
• platform
• preform