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Glite Dictionary
⛪ To make a saint 📚 To make official
to canonize

to canonize

8 8.2
Officially declare someone a saint or treat them as perfect
  • verb
  • /ˈkænəˌnaɪz/
  • Formal
translation icon : canonizar
  • Pope Francis will officially canonize several new saints in the upcoming ceremony.
  • canonized many saints

And I didn't one didn't realize that Joseph of the Jesus, Mary and Joseph had been canonized as a St.

Examples

  • The man known as Ignatius of Loyola was canonized a Saint in 1622

    Ignatius of Loyola (2016)

  • Why would you canonize a guy who left the Church?

    Destination Wedding (2018)

  • I think this brings the number of American canonized saints to twelve.

    Blog text (24)

  • Also, as I understand it, for someone to be canonized, there must be three miracles attributed to the deceased.

    Blog text (25)

  • 57 Stephen and several other members of his family were later canonized for their contributions to the establishment of the church in Hungary.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Pedro Calungsod is one of seven new saints who were canonized by Benedict XVI.

    Blog text (23)

  • She was canonized at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

    Cabrini (2024)

  • After years of devotion and miracles attributed to her, she was finally canonized by the church.

  • The process to canonize a saint involves thorough investigation and confirmation of their virtuous life.

Synonyms

to saint
vsto canonize
  • Formal
4 8.5

To officially declare a dead person holy in the Church

means someone is praised as perfect and above criticism

Antonyms

to criticize
701 3.3

To say what is wrong with someone or something

to denounce
  • Formal
115 6.8

Publicly criticize someone or something strongly

How Sacred

to canonize
  • Formal
8 8.2
to beatify
  • Formal
2 9.9
to venerate
  • Formal
11 7.4
to honor
  • US
796 2.3

Surface Forms

canonize infinitive
canonized past
canonized past participle
canonizing present participle
canonizes third person singular

Morphology

canonize = canon (transparent) = canon + ize

The verb is a regular formation from the noun 'canon' + '-ize', meaning 'to make part of the canon', which directly matches the religious action of declaring a saint.

Etymology

Canonize comes from the old word canon, which meant a 'rule' or an 'official list' used by the church for saints. To canonize someone was to put them on that list and make them an official saint, which is why it also means to treat someone as perfect or above criticism.