canonize

1 of 2

verb

can·​on·​ize ˈka-nə-ˌnīz 

canonized ˈka-nə-ˌnīzd 

in "Hamlet" usually

kə-ˈnä-ˌnīzd  ; canonizing

transitive verb

1

: to declare (a deceased person) an officially recognized saint

2

: to make canonical

3

: to sanction by ecclesiastical authority

4

: to attribute authoritative sanction or approval to

5

: to treat as illustrious, preeminent, or sacred

… his mother had canonized all his timidities as common sense.

—F. Scott Fitzgerald

canonization

ˌka-nə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

canonization

2 of 2

noun

can·​on·​i·​za·​tion ˌka-nə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌnī-ˈzā-

plural -s

: the act of canonizing or the state of being canonized

specifically : the final process or decree by which the name of a deceased person is placed in the catalog of saints and commended to perpetual veneration and invocation

Synonyms of canonize

Verb

• adore
• worship
• like

Examples of canonize in a Sentence

Verb

She died 100 years ago and was canonized in Rome last year.

a singing star so canonized by his fans that they refuse to believe anything bad about him

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After her death she was canonized by the Catholic Church and recognized as the patron saint of immigrants. —Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Early reports of the relationship between the Marists and the parish canonize it as a perfect match. —Hannah Brueske, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026

Four years ago, the Church canonized him as a saint. —Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026

She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995. —CNN Money, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Medieval Latin canonizare, from Late Latin canon catalog of saints, from Latin, standard

Noun

Middle English canonizacioun, from Medieval Latin canonization-, canonizatio, from canonizatus (past participle of canonizare to canonize) + Latin -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for canonize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

canonize

verb

can·​on·​ize ˈkan-ə-ˌnīz 

canonized; canonizing

1

: to declare to be a saint and worthy of public respect

2

: to treat something as if it were sacred

canonization

ˌkan-ə-nə-ˈzā-shən

noun