What does “normative” mean?

normative


Oh, this is a good one —

"Normative" basically means "related to a norm" — a norm being a rule, a standard, or what most people think is normal or correct.

So when something is normative, it's about what should be, not just what is. Like, a normative statement tells you what's right or expected. For example, "You should always be honest with your friends" — that's a normative idea, because it's about a rule or value.

You might hear it in school or serious writing: "That's a normative judgment" means someone is saying what's good or bad, not just describing facts.

The opposite would be just describing reality: "Some people lie to their friends" — that's just a fact, not normative.

So basically, normative = about rules, values, or what ought to happen.

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