naturalize
verb
nat·u·ral·ize
ˈna-ch(ə-)rə-ˌlīz 
naturalized; naturalizing
1
: to confer the rights of a national on
especially
: to admit to citizenship
2
: to introduce into common use or into the vernacular
3
: to bring into conformity with nature
4
: to cause (something, such as a plant) to become established as if native
: to become established as if native
Examples of naturalize in a Sentence
The government refused to naturalize them without documentation.
naturalized citizens of the U.S.
Several Asian fish have become naturalized in these lakes.
Before you naturalize bulbs in your lawn, fertilize well.
These daisies naturalize well in the Pacific Northwest.
Recent Examples on the Web
Both naturalized citizens and those who are in the country illegally said there is a palpable sense of fear now.
—
Daniella Silva, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2025
Snowdrops readily naturalize and are best planted in drifts along woodland edges or under large trees.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Arendt argued that such a view naturalizes anti-Semitism, counterintuitively suggesting its legitimacy.
—Daniel May, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Between 600,000 and 1 million immigrants have been naturalized as citizens every year since 2015, according to USCIS.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for naturalize
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Daniella Silva, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2025
Snowdrops readily naturalize and are best planted in drifts along woodland edges or under large trees.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Arendt argued that such a view naturalizes anti-Semitism, counterintuitively suggesting its legitimacy.
—Daniel May, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Between 600,000 and 1 million immigrants have been naturalized as citizens every year since 2015, according to USCIS.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for naturalize
Cite this Entry
“Naturalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naturalize. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
naturalize
verb
nat·u·ral·ize
ˈnach-(ə-)rə-ˌlīz
naturalized; naturalizing
1
: to introduce into common use
naturalize a foreign word
2
: to become or cause to become established as if native
naturalized weeds
3
: to give the rights and privileges of citizenship to
naturalize a foreign-born person
Legal Definition
naturalize
transitive verb
nat·u·ral·ize
ˈna-chə-rə-ˌlīz
naturalized; naturalizing
: to admit (a person) to citizenship
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