normative

[ nawr-muh-tiv ]
See synonyms for normative on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of or relating to anorm, especially an assumed norm regarded as the standard of correctness in behavior, speech, writing, etc.

  2. tending or attempting to establish such a norm, especially by the prescription of rules: normative grammar.

  1. reflecting the assumption of such a norm or favoring its establishment: a normative attitude.

Origin of normative

1
First recorded in 1875–80; norm + -ative

Other words from normative

  • non-nor·ma·tive, adjective
  • nor·ma·tive·ly, adverb
  • nor·ma·tive·ness, noun
  • un·nor·ma·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for normative

normative

/ (ˈnɔːmətɪv) /


adjective
  1. implying, creating, or prescribing a norm or standard, as in language: normative grammar

  2. expressing value judgments or prescriptions as contrasted with stating facts: normative economics

  1. of, relating to, or based on norms

Derived forms of normative

  • normatively, adverb
  • normativeness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012