# normalization

/ˌnɔɹməɫɪˈzeɪʃən/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/normalization
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

The process of organizing a database to stop information from being repeated. It keeps data tidy and makes sure that if you change a detail in one place, it updates correctly everywhere.

For teachers: A database design technique used to organize tables and columns to minimize redundancy and dependency. By dividing large tables into smaller ones and defining relationships between them, it protects data integrity and simplifies maintenance. While it also means returning something to a normal state, in computing it is strictly about structural efficiency.

## Examples

- We used database normalization to remove duplicate customer addresses from our system.
- Without proper normalization, your database might store the same phone number in five different places, leading to errors.
- The lead developer insisted on third normal form normalization to ensure that every non-key attribute was functionally dependent only on the primary key.

## Usage notes

- Often followed by the preposition 'of' to indicate the subject being standardized.

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