canonize
verb
can·on·ize
ˈka-nə-ˌnīz 
canonized
ˈka-nə-ˌnīzd
; canonizing
in "Hamlet" usually
kə-ˈnä-ˌnīzd
; canonizing
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—
Scott Fitzgerald
Scott FitzgeraldExamples of canonize in a Sentence
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
Real Housewives of New Jersey star Jennifer Aydin has revealed that one of seven new saints canonized by Pope Leo XIV at a recent ceremony was her great-great uncle.
—Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Longo, a onetime satanist in the 1800s who was among seven new saints canonized this month by Pope Leo XIV, was an attorney whose foray into the occult purportedly led him to promise his soul to a demon.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
In certain circles, the book was canonized.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
All saints get their own day of celebration and remembrance, and this year marks the first one for Acutis, who was canonized by Pope Leo XIV earlier this year — the first such ceremony to be performed by the new pope.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canonize
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Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Longo, a onetime satanist in the 1800s who was among seven new saints canonized this month by Pope Leo XIV, was an attorney whose foray into the occult purportedly led him to promise his soul to a demon.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
In certain circles, the book was canonized.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
All saints get their own day of celebration and remembrance, and this year marks the first one for Acutis, who was canonized by Pope Leo XIV earlier this year — the first such ceremony to be performed by the new pope.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canonize
Cite this Entry
“Canonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canonize. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
ˌkan-ə-nə-ˈzā-shən
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