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

Damage is naturalized as an acceptable and perhaps even necessary outcome of innovation. —Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025

Musk, a South African naturalized U.S. citizen and owner of SpaceX and Tesla, has professionally and personally benefitted from H-1B visas. —David Faris, Newsweek, 28 Dec. 2024

The bulbs naturalize well and perform beautifully in woodland settings, rock gardens, and pollinator plantings. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024

Native to a wide area of South America, cultivated in many parts of the world, and naturalized in Central America and New Zealand, this elegant plant is a favourite of hummingbirds and pollinators. —New York Times Games, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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