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.—
F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. 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 teen died of leukemia in 2006 and was canonized in September.
—Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
The Saints episode about Saint Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old who was canonized in September after dying from leukemia in 2006, was neither Francesca's first time in the director's chair nor her first time directing her father.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025
Ryan believes that canonizing Kirk as the patron saint of MAGA may have backfired in a subtle but important way.
—Ryan Broderick, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for canonize
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Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
The Saints episode about Saint Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old who was canonized in September after dying from leukemia in 2006, was neither Francesca's first time in the director's chair nor her first time directing her father.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025
Ryan believes that canonizing Kirk as the patron saint of MAGA may have backfired in a subtle but important way.
—Ryan Broderick, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for canonize
Cite this Entry
“Canonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canonize. Accessed 14 Dec. 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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