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
The pope ultimately decides whether to canonize someone.
—Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
Commissions of doctors and theologians then examine the miracles before the pope makes the ultimate decision to canonize someone.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025
Saints are persons in heaven who were officially canonized or not who did one of the following, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Lived heroically virtuous lives.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 1 May 2025
His successor, Benedict XVI, waived the waiting period, allowing John Paul to be canonized nine years after his death.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canonize
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Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
Commissions of doctors and theologians then examine the miracles before the pope makes the ultimate decision to canonize someone.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025
Saints are persons in heaven who were officially canonized or not who did one of the following, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Lived heroically virtuous lives.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 1 May 2025
His successor, Benedict XVI, waived the waiting period, allowing John Paul to be canonized nine years after his death.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 26 Apr. 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 30 Jun. 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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