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
• adulate
• deify
• dote (on)
• hero-worship
• idolize
• worship

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

Pope Francis announced yesterday that Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, will be canonized during the Jubilee for Adolescents in April, according to Vatican News. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2024

The Saint Announcement Pope Francis announced that Carlo Acutis, a teenager celebrated for his embrace of faith and digital technology, will be canonized in April. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024

In 2002, John Paul II canonized Juan Diego as the first Indigenous North American Catholic saint, with his own feast day on Dec. 9. La Virgen Morena The official sanctioning of the apparitions certainly has contributed to Guadalupe’s popularity. —Kristy Nabhan-Warren, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2023

He was canonized on Oct. 10, 1982, by Pope St. John Paul II, Scorsese said. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 8 Dec. 2024

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

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