canonize
verb
can·on·ize
ˈka-nə-ˌnīz 
canonized
ˈka-nə-ˌnīzd
; canonizing
in "Hamlet" usually
kə-ˈnä-ˌnīzd
; canonizing
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
Scott FitzgeraldExamples 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
Frassati, another young Italian man known for his charitable heart who died at the age of 24 from polio and lived in the early 1900s, is also being canonized on Sept 7 at a ceremony at the Vatican.
—Lauren Costantino
september 6, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
During the ceremony, the pontiff will also canonize Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young Italian man known for helping those in need and who died of polio in the 1920s.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Volpicelli was reportedly canonized a year before her death in 1894.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
But religious communities might be shocked by Strugar Mitevska’s take on Mother Teresa, who was canonized by Pope Francis in 2016.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canonize
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Lauren Costantino
september 6, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
During the ceremony, the pontiff will also canonize Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young Italian man known for helping those in need and who died of polio in the 1920s.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Volpicelli was reportedly canonized a year before her death in 1894.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
But religious communities might be shocked by Strugar Mitevska’s take on Mother Teresa, who was canonized by Pope Francis in 2016.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canonize
Cite this Entry
“Canonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canonize. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
ˌkan-ə-nə-ˈzā-shən
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