canonize
canonize — verb
- canonizepresent simple I / you / we / they
- canonizeshe / she / it
- canonizedpast simple
- canonizing-ing form
1. to give sainthood to someone who has died by an official decision of the Catholi
to give sainthood to someone who has died by an official decision of the Catholic Church.
After years of investigation, the Vatican canonized Oscar Romero in 2018.
pattern: canonize + deceased person as a saint
The Church did not canonize the nun until decades after her death.
Pilgrims filled the square when Pope Francis canonized two children from Fatima.
named religious authority performing the act
Many Catholics hoped the Church would canonize the missionary who opened schools for poor girls.
- canonize a bishop
- canonize a martyr
- canonize a missionary
- be canonized by the Church
- declare a saint
states the result directly, without the single formal verb
- saint
literary and uncommon as a verb; much less standard than canonize
Grammar Patterns
canonize + deceased person
be canonized by + church authority
Usage Note
Used mainly in Roman Catholic contexts. The object is a dead person, and the verb refers to the Church's formal act of naming that person a saint.
Common Mistakes
2. to talk about someone as if they were almost perfect, often more than they deser
to talk about someone as if they were almost perfect, often more than they deserve.
Some fans canonized the actor after one moving speech at the awards show.
canonize + public figure after a praised act
The newspaper was accused of canonizing the mayor and ignoring his record.
passive criticism: be accused of canonizing someone
After the rescue, neighbors almost canonized Rosa for bringing everyone food and blankets.
One good season should not canonize a coach who still mistreats young players.
Social media quickly canonized the founder, even though former staff told darker stories.
- canonize a leader
- canonize a celebrity
- canonize a founder
- canonize a mayor
Grammar Patterns
canonize + person
be accused of canonizing + person
Usage Note
Often carries criticism, suggesting praise has become excessive or uncritical. The object is usually a person, especially a leader, celebrity, or public figure.
Common Mistakes
3. to treat a book, film, idea, or similar work as one of the important classics pe
to treat a book, film, idea, or similar work as one of the important classics people should respect or study.
University courses soon canonized the novel as a key text of modern African literature.
canonize + work as a key text
Critics canonized the director's first three films and ignored her later experiments.
By the 1990s, the poem had been canonized in most school anthologies.
passive: work enters the accepted canon
Bloggers helped canonize the album among young listeners who had never heard jazz before.
The essay was canonized by scholars as the starting point of feminist film theory.
- canonize a novel
- canonize a film
- canonize a poem
- canonize an essay
- canonize a work as a classic
- enshrine
suggests giving lasting honored status in culture or memory
- elevate
broader and less tied to the idea of an accepted canon
- recognize as a classic
clear paraphrase for learner-friendly explanation
- dismiss
refuse to treat a work or idea as important
- marginalize
push something to the edge instead of granting classic status
Grammar Patterns
canonize + work/idea
be canonized as + classic text
Usage Note
This sense is used for works, texts, or ideas gaining classic or authoritative status. Distinguish it from sense 2, which is about overpraising a person.
Common Mistakes
4. in Christian use, to give a text, rule, prayer, or practice formal approval thro
in Christian use, to give a text, rule, prayer, or practice formal approval through church authority.
The council canonized the prayer for use in churches across the region.
church authority canonizes a prayer for worship use
Church leaders refused to canonize the booklet because its teaching was still disputed.
By the fifth century, several bishops had canonized these rules for local worship.
canonize + rules under religious authority
The document was never canonized by the monastery, so younger monks treated it as advice.
- canonize a prayer
- canonize a text
- canonize church rules
- canonize a document
- canonize for worship
Grammar Patterns
canonize + prayer/text/rule
be canonized by + church authority
Usage Note
Found mainly in theological or historical writing. The object is usually a text, rule, prayer, or practice, not a dead person; use sense 1 for naming a saint.
Common Mistakes
Etymology
First known use
14th century
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1