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
The report says at least 67 of the 314 children identified have been naturalized as Russian citizens, though the researchers say the actual number is likely higher.
—
Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 3 Dec. 2024
Adorno, for his part, was more interested in the ways in which the brute facts of commodity exchange were bolstered by myths that naturalized the capitalist world order, making any challenge to it seem as pointless as challenging the laws of motion.
—Thomas Meaney, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
The groups argued the motor vehicle records could be 20 years out of date, that naturalized citizens could be removed incorrectly and that citizens with similar names and birth dates of noncitizens could mistakenly lose their registration.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
About 40% were naturalized and 58% were non-citizens.
—Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for naturalize 
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Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 3 Dec. 2024
Adorno, for his part, was more interested in the ways in which the brute facts of commodity exchange were bolstered by myths that naturalized the capitalist world order, making any challenge to it seem as pointless as challenging the laws of motion.
—Thomas Meaney, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
The groups argued the motor vehicle records could be 20 years out of date, that naturalized citizens could be removed incorrectly and that citizens with similar names and birth dates of noncitizens could mistakenly lose their registration.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
About 40% were naturalized and 58% were non-citizens.
—Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for naturalize
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Dictionary Entries Near naturalize
Cite this Entry
“Naturalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naturalize. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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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