normalise

Everyday

1. To make something seem normal or ordinary, so people accept it, as in "normalise talking about feelings". tree →
2. To return something to a normal state, as in "relations normalised". tree →
3. (maths, science) To change numbers to a standard scale so they can be compared. tree →

In the lessons

Used in PSHE ("We want to normalise asking for help"; "Don't normalise bullying"), in news about countries making peace (normalise relations), and in science and data, where values are scaled so they can be compared fairly.

Examples

• We should normalise talking about mental health. tree →
• Laughing at bullying normalises it, which is wrong. tree →
• After the storm, life slowly normalised. tree →
• The two countries agreed to normalise relations. tree →
• Scientists normalise the results so they can compare them. tree →
• Her temperature normalised after the medicine. tree →
• Some games normalise violence, critics say. tree →

Note

UK, Australia, NZ spelling "normalise"; US and Canada "normalize". Noun "normalisation". "Normalise" can be good (normalise asking for help) or bad (normalise cruelty).