canonise

IPA/ˈkæn.ə.naɪz/
IPA/ˈkæn.ə.naɪz/

canonise — verb

  • canonisepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • canonises3rd person singular
  • canonising-ing form
  • canonisedpast simple

1. In Catholicism, canonise means that Church authorities make a formal statement d

1.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

In Catholicism, canonise means that Church authorities make a formal statement declaring that someone who has died is now officially a saint who may be honoured by believers.

Example

Pope Francis canonised Mother Teresa in 2016 during a ceremony at St. Peter's Square.

The Vatican carefully examined the nun's life and miracles before agreeing to canonise her.

passive: be canonised + Vatican authority

Common collocations
  • canonise a saint
  • canonise a martyr
  • formally canonise someone
  • canonise by the Pope
  • be canonised posthumously
Synonyms
  • beatify

    a preliminary step before full canonisation, meaning to declare a person blessed

  • sanctify

    more general; to make or declare holy, not limited to the official Church process

Antonyms
  • excommunicate

    to officially exclude someone from the Church, the opposite of admitting them into sainthood

Grammar Patterns

canonise + person

be canonised + by [church authority]

Usage Note

Frequently passive. Canonisation is a formal procedure of the Roman Catholic Church (and some Eastern Orthodox churches) that can only happen after the person has died. The process requires evidence of miracles and proof of a virtuous life. The Pope usually performs the ceremony.

Common Mistakes

The church canonised the living bishop.
The church only canonises people after they have died.
Canonisation is never performed on a living person.

2. To admire someone so extremely that you treat them as if they were perfect and s

2.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

To admire someone so extremely that you treat them as if they were perfect and sacred, often more than is reasonable or fair.

Example

Fans canonised the singer after her death, treating her like a goddess who never made mistakes.

collocation: canonise + celebrity after death

Critics argue that the media canonises public figures who lack any real lasting achievement.

Common collocations
  • canonise a celebrity
  • canonise a leader
  • canonise a public figure
  • canonise someone as a hero
Synonyms
  • idolise

    less formal and more common in everyday language; to admire someone extremely

  • deify

    more extreme; to treat someone as if they were a god

  • glorify

    focuses on praising someone's achievements rather than their personal perfection

Antonyms
  • criticise

    to express disapproval, the opposite of excessive praise

  • disparage

    to speak of someone as unimportant or worthless

Grammar Patterns

canonise + person

be canonised + as [noun]

Usage Note

Often used critically to suggest that the admiration is undeserved or exaggerated. Similar in meaning to 'idolise' but more formal and literary. Usually applied to public figures such as celebrities, artists, or political leaders.

Common Mistakes

I canonise my grandmother because she makes good cookies.
The media has canonised the actor as though he could never fail.
'Canonise' in this sense is strong and formal; it is not used for ordinary, everyday admiration.

3. To accept a writer, artist, or their work as being among the most important and

3.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

To accept a writer, artist, or their work as being among the most important and respected examples of their kind, so that it becomes part of the officially recognised set of great works.

Example

Shakespeare was canonised as a literary genius long before many other great playwrights.

Literary critics gradually canonised the novel, and schools across the country now teach it.

Common collocations
  • canonise a novel
  • canonise a film
  • canonise an author
  • be canonised as a classic
  • gradually canonised
Synonyms
  • enshrine

    to preserve something as if in a sacred place; similar sense of formal acceptance

  • immortalise

    to make someone or something famous for a very long time, not necessarily through official recognition

Antonyms
  • reject

    to refuse to accept a work as valuable

  • exclude

    to leave a work out of the recognised set of important works

Grammar Patterns

canonise + work / author

be canonised as [noun]

Usage Note

Typically refers to a gradual, collective process by which literary, artistic, musical, or film works become accepted as part of the established canon over time. Individual opinions do not canonise a work — broad critical and institutional consensus does.

Common Mistakes

I canonised this book after one chapter.
The book was gradually canonised by critics over several decades.
Canonisation of a work is a slow, collective process, not a personal opinion.

4. In Christianity, to give official acceptance to a religious text, decision, or f

4.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

In Christianity, to give official acceptance to a religious text, decision, or form of worship, so that it becomes an approved part of church practice.

Example

The church council canonised the new translation of the Bible for use during Sunday services.

Esme learned that church leaders in the fourth century had canonised the ancient text.

passive: had been canonised + time reference

Common collocations
  • canonise a text
  • canonise a scripture
  • canonise a practice
  • canonise a doctrine
  • be canonised by the council
Synonyms
  • authorise

    more general; to give official permission, not restricted to religious contexts

  • ratify

    to formally confirm a decision, usually by a vote or signature

  • sanction

    to officially approve something, often used in both religious and secular contexts

Antonyms
  • forbid

    to order that something not be done or used

  • reject

    to refuse to accept something as valid or approved

Grammar Patterns

canonise + text / practice

be canonised + by church leaders

Usage Note

Used specifically in Christian contexts to describe the formal approval of biblical texts, liturgical practices, or church decisions. Less common than the saint-related sense. The related noun 'canon' refers to the official list of approved scriptures.

Common Mistakes

The government canonised the new law.
The church leaders canonised the revised prayer book for official use.
In this sense, 'canonise' only applies to religious or church contexts, not to secular approval.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Canonise', 'beatify', 'sanctify', and 'consecrate' all relate to making something holy, but they differ in scope and use. 'Beatify' is a preliminary step in the Roman Catholic process — a person is beatified (declared 'blessed') before they can be canonised as a saint. 'Sanctify' has a broader meaning: to make or declare something holy through prayer or ritual, and it can apply to places, objects, or days — not just people. 'Consecrate' is used when formally dedicating a church, altar, or someone's life to God, often in a public ceremony. Only 'canonise' is regularly used metaphorically outside religious contexts to mean 'treat someone as perfect', as in 'the media canonised the young actress'. For example: the Church canonised John Henry Newman in 2019 (official sainthood) versus fans canonised the singer after her death (exaggerated admiration).

beatify ↗sanctifyconsecrate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • canonise someone as a saint
  • be canonised by the Church
  • canonise a work as a classic

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'canonise' comes from the Latin verb 'canonizare', which means 'to make canonical' or 'to add to a list of rules'. This in turn comes from the Greek word 'kanōn' (κανών), which originally meant a measuring rod or ruler, and later came to mean a standard or official list. In Christian usage, the 'canon' was the official list of saints or approved scriptures, so 'to canonise' originally meant to add a person's name to that list. The metaphorical sense of treating someone or something as sacred or perfect developed in later centuries.