SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
norm
noun
A standard or pattern regarded as usual, expected, or acceptable.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Usual or accepted standard
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA norm describes what is typical or expected; a benchmark is specifically a reference for comparison.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See norm in use
Written agendas became the norm after the committee expanded.
For the printshop's small exhibition, legibility at the intended viewing distance was one criterion for selecting a poster. Using two colors was the norm among last year's entries, but the organizers had never required that choice.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license