canonize

Canonize is a verb with two related but distinct uses. In religious contexts, it means to declare a person to be a saint and thus part of the official sacred roster of a church. More broadly, it can mean to declare something to be part of a recognized set or canon. The noun form is canonization (or, in British spelling, canonisation).

In Christian practice, canonization denotes a formal recognition by a church authority that a person’s life and deeds reflect holiness. In the Roman Catholic Church, the process typically unfolds through a formal cause: the person is named Servant of God, then Venerable, then Blessed after beatification (usually contingent on a verified miracle), and finally a saint after a second miracle or martyrdom. A papal decree confers sainthood. The Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox traditions have similar but distinct procedures, often involving synodal recognition and local veneration rather than a centralized rite.

Outside strictly religious use, canonize can mean to regard something as canonical or authoritative within a particular tradition or body of work. In literature, film, and media, to canonize a work or character means to recognize it as part of the official, accepted storyline or universe, as opposed to non-canonical material created by fans or later authors. The term is commonly used in discussions of franchises and religious or literary canons, where debates about what is or is not canonical arise.