Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Language: Latin
Origin: norma 'tool for checking straight lines and angles'

norm

 noun
     
norm [countable]
1 the usual or normal situation, way of doing something etc
be/become the norm
Short term contracts are now the norm with some big companies.
Joyce's style of writing was a striking departure from the literary norm.
2

norms

[plural] generally accepted standards of social behaviour:
terrorists who violate the norms of civilized society
3

the norm

the normal or average standard
above/below the norm
28% of children tested below the norm.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary