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

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Yet their rise could erode the norm of reciprocity a little, too. Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025 The decor also went beyond the norm, with leather booths, floor-to-ceiling liquor bottles behind the bar, an open kitchen and a 600-seat patio. Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025 But don’t be fooled into thinking that’s the norm. Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025 Traditionally, redistricting was managed by state legislatures and partisan shaping of election districts was the norm. Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the norm

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Cite this Entry

“The norm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20norm. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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