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

About 49% have become U.S. citizens by a process known as naturalization. —Jennifer Van Hook, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2025

The other rule changes would require teachers to pass a writing test based on the US naturalization test and require schools to fly the American flag. —Eric Levenson, CNN, 28 Jan. 2025

Indeed, his sidekick Elon Musk, the richest person in the Milky Way, held an H-1B visa before naturalization. —Armstrong Williams, Orange County Register, 13 Jan. 2025

An immigration lawyer costs between $1,000 and $5,000, or even more, to help file citizenship paperwork, and the general filing fee for the naturalization application is over $700, Cuber said. —Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2025

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