canonize
C2Formal, religious, literary, academic
Definition
Meaning
To officially declare someone a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.
To treat or regard someone or something as being of great importance, worthy of reverence, or as an authoritative standard.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The religious sense is primary and literal. The secular/extended sense is metaphorical, implying elevation to an almost sacred status. It often carries a critical or ironic tone when used outside religious contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling: 'canonise' is the standard British spelling, 'canonize' is standard American. Both forms are understood in both regions.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, primarily found in religious, historical, literary, and critical discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] canonizes [Object (person/idea)][Object (person/idea)] is canonized by [Subject][Subject] canonizes [Object] as [Complement]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to canonize in the annals of history”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in metaphorical critique: 'The industry has canonized that outdated business model.'
Academic
Common in literary criticism, history, and religious studies: 'Scholars debate which authors should be canonized in the curriculum.'
Everyday
Very rare. Would be understood but sound formal or ironic.
Technical
Specific to Catholic theology and ecclesiastical law.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The Vatican will canonise the nun next year.
- Critics warned against the attempt to canonise that particular literary style.
American English
- The Pope moved to canonize the 19th-century missionary.
- Some fans want to canonize the director's early, experimental films.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form for 'canonize')
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form for 'canonize')
adjective
British English
- The canonised saints are listed in the martyrology.
- He achieved a canonised status in the world of philosophy.
American English
- A canonized saint's feast day is celebrated universally.
- Her theories have reached a canonized position in the field.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The church canonized her many years after her death.
- The process to canonize a person in the Catholic Church is very long and detailed.
- Modern critics often challenge the decision to canonize certain authors in the literary tradition.
- The movement sought not just to honour the founder but to formally canonize him, elevating his writings to doctrinal authority.
- In their zeal to canonize the scientific theories of the past, they risked stifling contemporary innovation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CANNON firing someone up into the saintly heavens. CANON (law) + IZE (make) = to make part of the official law (of sainthood).
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS SANCTITY / TO MAKE AUTHORITATIVE IS TO MAKE HOLY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'канонизировать' (direct cognate, correct). Avoid using it as a simple synonym for 'praise' or 'honour'—it implies a formal, often institutional, act of elevation to a supreme status.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean simply 'praise highly' without the connotation of formal, authoritative, or quasi-sacred status. Confusing it with 'canon' (a rule or body of work) in pronunciation or spelling.
Practice
Quiz
In a literary context, what does it mean to 'canonize' an author?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The main noun forms are 'canonization' (American spelling) and 'canonisation' (British spelling).
Yes, but it is a metaphorical extension. It means to treat something with the highest possible respect or authority, as if it were sacred (e.g., 'canonize a scientific theory' or 'canonize a film director'). This usage is common in academic and critical writing.
In Catholic theology, 'beatify' is a step before 'canonization'. Beatification declares a person 'blessed' and permits local veneration. Canonization is the final step, declaring the person a saint and commanding universal veneration by the Church.
It is non-standard and would be considered a British spelling. The standard American English spelling is always 'canonize' with a 'z'.
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