canonization

UK: /ˌkænənaɪˈzeɪʃən/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

can•on•ize /ˈkænəˌnaɪz/   v. [~ + object] , -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. Religion to declare (someone) officially as a saint:
   When was she canonized?

can•on•i•za•tion /ˌkænənəˈzeɪʃən/  n. 

[uncountable] The canonization of Joan of Arc took place in 1920.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

can•on•ize  (kan′ə nīz′), v.t., -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. Religion [Eccles.] to place in the canon of saints.
2. to glorify.
3. Religion to make canonical;
   place or include within a canon, esp. of scriptural works:
   They canonized the Song of Solomon after much controversy.
4. to consider or treat as sacrosanct or holy:
   They canonized his many verbal foibles and made them gospel.
5. to sanction or approve authoritatively, esp. ecclesiastically.
6. [Archaic.] to deify.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] can′on•ise′. 

• Middle English. See canon¹, -ize 1350–1400

can′on•i•za′tion, n. 
can′on•iz′er, n.