| a fault along an inclined plane in which the upper side or hanging wall appears to have moved downward with respect to the lower side or footwall (opposed to reverse fault ). |
| normal fault n. Geology A fault in which the hanging wall has moved downward relative to the footwall. |
| normal fault
A geologic fault in which the hanging wall has moved downward relative to the footwall. Normal faults occur where two blocks of rock are pulled apart, as by tension. Compare reverse fault. See Note and illustration at fault. |