naturalize

[ nach-er-uh-lahyz, nach-ruh- ]

verb (used with object)

, nat·u·ral·ized, nat·u·ral·iz·ing.

1. to confer upon (an alien) the rights and privileges of a citizen.
2. to introduce (organisms) into a region and cause them to flourish as if native.
3. to introduce or adopt (foreign practices, words, etc.) into a country or into general use:

   to naturalize a French phrase.

4. to bring into conformity with nature.
5. to regard or explain as natural rather than supernatural:

   to naturalize miracles.

6. to adapt or accustom to a place or to new surroundings.

verb (used without object)

, nat·u·ral·ized, nat·u·ral·iz·ing.

1. to become naturalized.
2. to adapt as if native to a new environment, set of circumstances, etc.
3. to study or carry on research in natural history.

naturalize

/ -tʃərə-; ˈnætʃrəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. tr to give citizenship to (a person of foreign birth)
2. to be or cause to be adopted in another place, as a word, custom, etc
3. tr to introduce (a plant or animal from another region) and cause it to adapt to local conditions
4. intr (of a plant or animal) to adapt successfully to a foreign environment and spread there
5. tr to explain (something unusual) with reference to nature, excluding the supernatural
6. tr to make natural or more lifelike

naturalize

/ năch′ər-ə-līz′ /

1. To establish a nonnative species in a region where it is able to reproduce successfully and live alongside native species in the wild. Naturalized species may be introduced intentionally or unintentionally. Eucalyptus trees are native to Australia but have become naturalized in many other parts of the world.

Derived Forms

• ˌnaturaliˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• natu·ral·i·zation noun
• natu·ral·izer noun
• un·natu·ral·ize verb (used with object) unnaturalized unnaturalizing

Word History and Origins

Origin of naturalize¹

First recorded in 1585–95; natural + -ize

Example Sentences

They were barred from becoming naturalized citizens—and many states passed Alien Land Laws, making it impossible for Koreans to buy their own farmland and control the means of production.

From Time

What set the project apart, though, was that it compared small businesses owned by US-born citizens and naturalized citizens.

From Search Engine Watch

You Xiaorong, a naturalized US citizen, is charged with stealing research on BPA-free coatings for bottles from her employer, Coca-Cola.

From MIT Technology Review

When they naturalize as US citizens, they gain the right to vote.

From Quartz

The share of those getting naturalized rose from 62% in 2005 to 67% 2015.

From Quartz

The attempt to naturalize them in France, or any Continental nation, he regards as mischievous quackery.

From Project Gutenberg

A few words on the latest attempt which has been made to naturalize an exotic bird in England will not seem out of place here.

From Project Gutenberg

If I have failed, I have but added another failure to the numerous attempts to naturalize hexameter verse in the English language.

From Project Gutenberg

When portions of the stem or of the tuber are thrown away by the side of streams, they naturalize themselves easily.

From Project Gutenberg

The seeds of sesame often sow themselves outside plantations, and more or less naturalize the species.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• familiarize