naturalization

UK: /ˌnætʃ^ərəlaɪˈzeɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌnætʃərəlɪˈzeɪʃən/

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

nat•u•ral•ize /ˈnætʃərəˌlaɪz, ˈnætʃrə-/   v. [~ + object] , -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. Government to make (someone) a citizen:
   He was naturalized after having lived in that country for ten years.

nat•u•ral•i•za•tion /ˌnætʃərəlɪˈzeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nat•u•ral•ize  (nach′ər ə līz′, nach′rə-), v., -ized, -iz•ing. 
v.t. 

1. Government to confer upon (an alien) the rights and privileges of a citizen.
2. to introduce (organisms) into a region and cause them to flourish as if native.
3. to introduce or adopt (foreign practices, words, etc.) into a country or into general use:
   to naturalize a French phrase.
4. to bring into conformity with nature.
5. to regard or explain as natural rather than supernatural:
   to naturalize miracles.
6. to adapt or accustom to a place or to new surroundings.

v.i. 

7. Government to become naturalized.
8. to adapt as if native to a new environment, set of circumstances, etc.
9. to study or carry on research in natural history.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] nat′u•ral•ise′. 

• natural + -ize 1585–95

nat′u•ral•i•za′tion, n. 
nat′u•ral•iz′er, n.