canonize
ca·non·ize/ˈkænəˌnaɪz/verb
canonize is spelled C-A-N-O-N-I-Z-E: 8 letters and 3 syllables (ca·non·ize). It appears about once in every 14 million words in written English, the 113,022nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, canonize means “To declare (a deceased person) as a saint, and enter them into the canon of saints” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in canonize?
| Letters | 8: C-A-N-O-N-I-Z-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: ca·non·ize |
| In writing | about once in every 14 million words; the 113,022nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is canonize?
Canonize appears about once in every 14 million words in written English, the 113,022nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce canonize?
- UK /ˈkænənaɪz/
- US /ˈkænəˌnaɪz/
Canonize has 3 syllables, split ca·non·ize in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-canonize.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of canonize
- canonizes present, singular, he/she/it
- canonizing participle, present
- canonized participle, past
- canonise
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does canonize mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
BritishUSTo declare (a deceased person) as a saint, and enter them into the canon of saints.
Thomas Becket was canonized in 1173.
- 2
BritishUSTo regard as a saint; to glorify, to exalt to the highest honour.
- 3
BritishUSTo formally declare (a piece of religious writing) to be part of the biblical canon.
- 4
BritishUSTo regard (an artistic or written work or its creator) as one of a group that are representative of a particular field.
- 5
BritishUSEspecially of a church: to give official approval to; to authorize, to sanction.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Canonize in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense to declare as a saint:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | canoniser |
| German | heiligsprechen |
| Portuguese | canonizar |
| Spanish | canonizar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.