Meaning & use
naturalization
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
The legal process by which a foreign resident becomes a full citizen of a country.
Grammar: Usually uncountable, but can be countable when referring to a specific case: a naturalization.
Patterns
- naturalization as a citizen
- apply for naturalization
- grant someone naturalization
After living in the country for five years, she applied for naturalization.
The naturalization ceremony was held at the courthouse.
He received his naturalization certificate last week.
Word forms
| plural | naturalizations |
|---|
Common combinations
- naturalization process
- The naturalization process can take several months.
- naturalization ceremony
- New citizens take an oath at the naturalization ceremony.
- apply for naturalization
- You can apply for naturalization after meeting the residency requirements.
- naturalization papers
- He kept his naturalization papers in a safe place.
Synonyms and how they differ
- citizenship
- The status of being a citizen; naturalization is the process of gaining it.
- adoption
- Not a synonym in this sense; adoption is taking a child into your family legally.
Word family
- naturalize verb
- To make someone a citizen or to become a citizen.
- naturalized adjective
- Having become a citizen through naturalization.
Commonly confused: naturalization or nationalization?
naturalization vs nationalization
Nationalization is when a government takes control of private industry; naturalization is about citizenship.
Practice
What does 'naturalization' mean?
Choose one answer.
Naturalization is the legal process of becoming a citizen. 'Making something natural' is naturalization in a different, rare sense, but the common meaning is about citizenship.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “naturalization”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.