canonize

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

—Scott Fitzgerald

canonization

ˌka-nə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Synonyms

• adore
• worship
• like

Examples 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

Since his death, two miracles have been attributed to him, and Pope Leo XIV canonized him Sunday. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025

He was canonized over the weekend. —Greg Dixon, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025

During the first saint-making Mass of his pontificate, Leo also canonized another popular Italian figure who died young, Pier Giorgio Frassati. —Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025

Now that Acutis has been canonized, churches and schools across the world can be dedicated to him. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for canonize

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

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