normal - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

If something conforms to a general pattern, standard, or average, we describe it as normal, but of course that standard can change over time. What's normal today may be "abnormal" in the future.

The word normal comes from a Latin word normalis, which described something made with a carpenter's square. Something built this way would be normed to have angles that were perfectly aligned and fit a general pattern. This meaning eventually gave us the broader sense of fitting a pattern, standard, or average. Doctors like you to be a normal weight for your height, so you may need to grow taller to make your doctor happy.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: normal

1	adj n	being approximately average or within certain limits in e.g. intelligence and development something regarded as a normative example
2	adj	forming a right angle

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: normal

1

adj being approximately average or within certain limits in e.g. intelligence and development

“a perfectly normal child”

“of normal intelligence”

“the most normal person I've ever met”

Antonyms:: abnormal
departing from the normal in e.g. intelligence and development; exceptional
deviating widely from a norm of physical or mental ability; used especially of children below normal in intelligence; show more antonyms...

adj conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal

“serve wine at normal room temperature”

“normal diplomatic relations”

“normal working hours”

“normal word order”

“normal curiosity”

“the normal course of events”

Synonyms: average, mean
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value; average, median
relating to or constituting the middle value of an ordered set of values (or the average of the middle two in a set with an even number of values); average, modal
relating to or constituting the most frequent value in a distribution; natural
functioning or occurring in a normal way; lacking abnormalities or deficiencies; regular
not deviating from what is normal; typical
conforming to a type; sane
mentally healthy; free from mental disorder; standard
conforming to or constituting a standard of measurement or value; or of the usual or regularized or accepted kind

Antonyms:: abnormal, unnatural
not normal; not typical or usual or regular or conforming to a norm; aberrant, deviant, deviate
markedly different from an accepted norm; anomalous
deviating from the general or common order or type; antidromic
conducting nerve impulses in a direction opposite to normal; atypical, irregular
deviating from normal expectations; somewhat odd, strange, or abnormal; brachydactylic, brachydactylous
having abnormally short finger or toes; defective
markedly subnormal in structure or function or intelligence or behavior; freakish
characteristic of a freak; kinky, perverted
(used of sexual behavior) showing or appealing to bizarre or deviant tastes; subnormal
below normal or average; supernormal
exceeding the normal or average; vicarious
occurring in an abnormal part of the body instead of the usual site involved in that function; insane
afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement; show more antonyms...

adj in accordance with scientific laws

Antonyms:: paranormal
not in accordance with scientific laws; unnatural
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature; parapsychological
beyond normal physical explanation; psychic, psychical
outside the sphere of physical science; psychokinetic
moving an object without apparent use of physical means; supernormal, supranormal
beyond the range of the normal or scientifically explainable; extrasensory, paranormal
seemingly outside normal sensory channels; show more antonyms...

n something regarded as a normative example

Synonyms:: convention, formula, pattern, rule

Types:: show 6 types...; hide 6 types...; mores
(sociology) the conventions that embody the fundamental values of a group; code of behavior, code of conduct
a set of conventional principles and expectations that are considered binding on any person who is a member of a particular group; universal
a behavioral convention or pattern characteristic of all members of a particular culture or of all human beings; courtly love
(Middle Ages) a highly conventionalized code of conduct for lovers; knight errantry
(Middle Ages) the code of conduct observed by a knight errant who is wandering in search of deeds of chivalry; protocol
code of correct conduct

Type of:: practice
knowledge of how something is usually done

2

adj forming a right angle

Synonyms: perpendicular
intersecting at or forming right angles