Word
normative
Phoneticsnor·ma·tive, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈnɔɹmətɪv/
UK/nˈɔːmətˌɪv/
Definition
adj. describing how things should be according to a rule or standard, rather than just how they are in real life.
adj. relating to an ideal standard or model; based on what is considered correct or normal. Often used in social sciences to describe rules that guide behavior or evaluate actions.
Examples
“The teacher gave normative feedback on how to write a good essay.”
“Sociologists study normative behavior to understand how social pressure forces people to follow unwritten rules.”
“The debate shifted from a purely technical analysis of the economy to a normative discussion about what constitutes a fair distribution of wealth across the population.”
Examples
simple
“The teacher gave normative feedback on how to write a good essay.”
contextual
“Sociologists study normative behavior to understand how social pressure forces people to follow unwritten rules.”
complex
“The debate shifted from a purely technical analysis of the economy to a normative discussion about what constitutes a fair distribution of wealth across the population.”
Usage
Often appears before nouns like 'pressure', 'influence', or 'framework'.
Pitfall
The normative of the group
The norms of the group
Learners often use the adjective 'normative' when they mean the noun 'norm' to refer to the rules themselves.
Real-World Examples
“Alona Pardo, who previously curated an exhibition exploring masculinities in photography at the Barbican in London, says the two latest covers highlight “how the media continues to codify and reinforce normative ideals of manhood”.” “This is an unbelievably weird life, one that starts so wildly and violently beyond the boundaries of normative society that it’s a wonder anyone manages to stay remotely sane within it.” Etymology
From Latin norma + -ative. Compare French normatif.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/normative