naturalize

verb

nat·​u·​ral·​ize ˈna-ch(ə-)rə-ˌlīz 

naturalized; naturalizing

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: 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

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

For instance, if a green card holder intentionally underreported income and later naturalized without disclosing it, a VDP submission could be used to argue misrepresentation took place on the on the Form N-400. —Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025

Nearly all Florida immigrants, 89%, speak English, and the majority, 57%, are naturalized citizens. —Matt Brooks, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2025

Li and Wang were both born and raised in China, but are naturalized U.S. citizens. —Dan Mangan, CNBC, 30 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for naturalize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids 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

naturalization

ˌna-chə-rə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun