naturalization

noun

nat·​u·​ral·​i·​za·​tion ˌna-ch(ə-)rə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

plural naturalizations

: the act or process of naturalizing : the state of being naturalized: such as

a

: the course of action undertaken to become a citizen of a country other than the country where one was born

I complete the application for naturalization, wondering whether I know enough American history and government, and whether I could be disqualified for not knowing all the unmemorable lines of Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner."

—Judy Ray

b

of a non-native plant or animal : the process of becoming or the state of being established in the wild so that growth and reproduction is possible without human intervention

This phenomenon follows the typical pattern of invading plant and animal species, the gradual process of naturalization by which ecological balance tends to reassert.

—John Eastman

Examples of naturalization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An immigrant who makes misrepresentations as part of the naturalization process can also face criminal exposure: Under US federal law, making a false statement to or concealing a material fact from the government carries a potential penalty of five years in prison. —Tim Marchman, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024

Biden won by less than 12,000 votes in Georgia, where there were over 46,000 naturalizations. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

Every year, the United States welcomes hundreds of thousands of new citizens in naturalization ceremonies that manage to be both banal and deeply moving. —Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024

About one in 10 voters would have trouble producing a document that proves their citizenship — like a birth certificate, passport or naturalization papers — because they might be lost, destroyed or kept in a family member's home or safe, according to a report from the Brennan Center for Justice. —Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1558, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

naturalization

noun

nat·​u·​ral·​i·​za·​tion

ˌnach-(ə-)rə-lə-ˈzā-shən

: the act or process of naturalizing : the state of being naturalized