naturalize
verb
nat·u·ral·ize
ˈna-ch(ə-)rə-ˌlīz 
naturalized; naturalizing
1
: to confer the rights of a national on
especially
: to admit to citizenship
2
: to introduce into common use or into the vernacular
3
: to bring into conformity with nature
4
: to cause (something, such as a plant) to become established as if native
: to become established as if native
Examples of naturalize in a Sentence
The government refused to naturalize them without documentation.
naturalized citizens of the U.S.
Several Asian fish have become naturalized in these lakes.
Before you naturalize bulbs in your lawn, fertilize well.
These daisies naturalize well in the Pacific Northwest.
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump made clear during Tuesday’s tour that naturalized U.S. citizens — who live in so many communities in Central Florida — may be next to face detention and deportation.
—
Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 July 2025
Of late, in a rare instance of going further than the right-wing Project 2025 itself, Trump has been testing out the notion of kicking U.S. citizens, naturalized and born here, out of the country too.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 7 July 2025
Some species now naturalized in the United Kingdom, for example—from apples and asparagus to fallow deer and pheasants—arrived with Roman conquerors.
—Krista Langlois, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2025
The cheerful flowers look lovely massed in perennial beds and are perfect for naturalizing into meadows and prairie plantings.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for naturalize
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Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 July 2025
Of late, in a rare instance of going further than the right-wing Project 2025 itself, Trump has been testing out the notion of kicking U.S. citizens, naturalized and born here, out of the country too.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 7 July 2025
Some species now naturalized in the United Kingdom, for example—from apples and asparagus to fallow deer and pheasants—arrived with Roman conquerors.
—Krista Langlois, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2025
The cheerful flowers look lovely massed in perennial beds and are perfect for naturalizing into meadows and prairie plantings.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for naturalize
Cite this Entry
“Naturalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naturalize. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
naturalize
verb
nat·u·ral·ize
ˈnach-(ə-)rə-ˌlīz
naturalized; naturalizing
1
: to introduce into common use
naturalize a foreign word
2
: to become or cause to become established as if native
naturalized weeds
3
: to give the rights and privileges of citizenship to
naturalize a foreign-born person
Legal Definition
naturalize
transitive verb
nat·u·ral·ize
ˈna-chə-rə-ˌlīz
naturalized; naturalizing
: to admit (a person) to citizenship
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