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

Derivative citizenship has become an important pathway to citizenship for thousands of children of immigrants who naturalize annually, helping ensure family unity in the U.S. immigration system. —Albinson Linares, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025

The question's sensitivity is particularly evident in the lower response rates among households with at least one non-U.S. citizen, U.S.-born Latino or naturalized U.S. citizen who was born outside Latin America. —Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 25 Mar. 2025

Wild tulips thrive in cold winters and dry summers, but only certain varieties naturalize well in warmer climates. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025

Immigration categories at the time were different, but Chinese immigrants were ineligible to naturalize and were deportable, similar to today’s unauthorized immigrants. —Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 9 Feb. 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