canonisation

IPA/ˌkæn.ə.naɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
IPA/ˌkæn.ə.nəˈzeɪ.ʃən/

canonisation — noun

  • canonisationsingular
  • canonisationsplural

1. the Roman Catholic Church's formal declaration, made after a lengthy investigati

1.nounC1
Definition

the Roman Catholic Church's formal declaration, made after a lengthy investigation, recognising someone who has died as a saint

Example

The canonisation of Mother Teresa took place in 2016, nineteen years after her death.

collocation: canonisation of [person]

Pope Francis presided over the canonisation ceremony in St. Peter's Square last Sunday.

collocation: presided over the canonisation

Common collocations
  • canonisation process
  • canonisation ceremony
  • preside over a canonisation
  • attend a canonisation
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

the canonisation of + [person]

Usage Note

British spelling; American English uses 'canonization'. Distinct from 'beatification', which is the earlier step declaring a person 'blessed' but not yet a saint.

Common Mistakes

Mother Teresa's beatification happened in 2016.
Mother Teresa's canonisation happened in 2016.
Beatification is the earlier, lesser step; canonisation is the final declaration of sainthood.
The cannonisation ceremony was beautiful.
The canonisation ceremony was beautiful.
One 'n', from 'canon' (church law), not 'cannon' (weapon).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Canonisation is the final step in the Catholic Church's process of declaring someone a saint, and it is considered infallible — the person is definitively in heaven. Beatification is the preliminary step: the person is declared 'blessed' and may be venerated locally, but is not yet a universal saint. Glorification is the Eastern Orthodox equivalent of canonisation, though the Orthodox process is less centralised and does not require documented miracles in the same way. In everyday speech, 'canonisation' can also be used metaphorically for any official recognition that elevates someone to near-legendary status, while 'beatification' and 'glorification' are almost never used outside their religious settings.

beatificationglorification ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the canonisation of [name]
  • preside over a canonisation
  • attend a canonisation

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'canonizare' (to place in the canon, or official list, of saints), which comes from 'canon' meaning 'rule' or 'list'. The word entered English through Old French in the late Middle Ages. The spelling with 's' (canonisation) is British; American English prefers 'canonization' with 'z'.