canonize

especially British, can·on·ise

[kan-uh-nahyz]

verb (used with object)

canonized, canonizing 

1. Ecclesiastical.,  to place in the canon of saints.

2. to glorify.

3. to make canonical; place or include within a canon, especially 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, especially ecclesiastically.

6. Archaic.,  to deify.

canonize

/ ˈkænəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. RC Church to declare (a person) to be a saint and thus admit to the canon of saints

2. to regard as holy or as a saint

3. to sanction by canon law; pronounce valid

Other Word Forms

• canonization noun
• canonizer noun
• supercanonization noun
• uncanonization noun
• uncanonize verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of canonize¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; canon ¹ ( def. ) + -ize ( def. )

Example Sentences

As Britpop began to cohere into a recognizable genre and vision, Suede was canonized as its originators, only to be largely eclipsed as bands like Blur and Oasis came to define the movement.

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This year, the league canonized the rivalry, which is said to have begun as geographic, given both teams’ West Coast homes, Reuters reports.

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As we posthumously canonize David Lynch, it might be tempting to assume he came out of the womb the supremely confident, eccentric auteur the world became enthralled by in the 1980s and ’90s.

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Fascists believe you have to destroy to create, and Jan. 6 has already been canonized because of its violence as a foundational moment of the New Era of Trumpism.

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Catholic school nuns practically canonized John F. Kennedy, never ceasing to remind us students that he was the first Catholic President.

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Related Words

• beatify 
• consecrate