canonize
/ˈkænənaɪz/
"canonize" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“canonize” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 8
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To declare (a deceased person) as a saint, and enter them into the canon of saints.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | canonize |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ˈkænənaɪz/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “canonize” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for canonize is 8 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkænənaɪz/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
canonize has no tracked misspelling variants, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Late Middle English canonizen (“to declare as a saint; to appoint to an ecclesiastical office”), from Old French canonisier (modern French canoniser (“to canonize”)), or from its etymon Medieval Latin, Late Latin canōnizāre, the present active infiniti… The correct English form is canonize, spelled C-A-N-O-N-I-Z-E.
Definition
- 1To declare (a deceased person) as a saint, and enter them into the canon of saints.
- 2To regard as a saint; to glorify, to exalt to the highest honour.
- 3To formally declare (a piece of religious writing) to be part of the biblical canon.
- 4To regard (an artistic or written work or its creator) as one of a group that are representative of a particular field.
- 5Especially of a church: to give official approval to; to authorize, to sanction.
Etymology
From Late Middle English canonizen (“to declare as a saint; to appoint to an ecclesiastical office”), from Old French canonisier (modern French canoniser (“to canonize”)), or from its etymon Medieval Latin, Late Latin canōnizāre, the present active infinitive of Latin canōnizō (“to recognize as a saint, canonize; to declare as authoritative or official”), from Latin canōn (“measuring line; (figurative) precept, rule, canon; authorized catalogue”) + -izō (suffix forming verbs). The English word is analysable as canon (“general principle, rule; authoritative group of works; catalogue of saints canonized in the Roman Catholic Church”) + -ize.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “canonize”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is C-A-N-O-N-I-Z-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈkænənaɪz/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.