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

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

And Pope Francis is set to canonize the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2024

During his weekly general audience on Wednesday, Francis revealed plans to canonize Acutis during the Vatican's Jubilee of Adolescents from April 25 to 27. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024

Mother Teresa, who was canonized as St. Teresa of Calcutta in 2016, died on Sept. 5, 1997, at the age of 87. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 6 Sep. 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