naturalization

/nætʃərəlɪˈzeɪʃɪn/

/nætʃərəlɪˈzeɪʃɪn/

Other forms: naturalizations

Use the noun naturalization to describe what happens when someone becomes a brand new citizen of a country.

If you're born in one country but want to become a citizen of another, you'll have to go through the process of naturalization. There are certain rules and processes involved in naturalization, depending on the country, but you usually have to live there for a certain number of years and swear an oath of loyalty. When biologists use the word naturalization, they're talking about moving plants or animals to a new place where they can thrive.

Definitions of naturalization

1. noun

   the proceeding whereby a foreigner is granted citizenship
   synonyms: naturalisation

   type of:

   legal proceeding, proceeding, proceedings

   (law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
2. noun

   changing the pronunciation of a borrowed word to agree with the borrowers' phonology
   “the naturalization in English of many Italian words”

   synonyms: naturalisation

   type of:

   adoption, borrowing

   the appropriation (of ideas or words etc) from another source
3. noun

   the quality of being brought into conformity with nature
   synonyms: naturalisation

   type of:

   naturalness

   the quality of being natural or based on natural principles
4. noun

   the introduction of animals or plants to places where they flourish but are not indigenous
   synonyms: naturalisation

   type of:

   debut, entry, first appearance, introduction, launching, unveiling

   the act of beginning something new