What does naturalization mean?
Naturalization names the process by which someone becomes a citizen of a country other than the one in which they were born. It commonly refers to a formal legal process involving residence, an application, background checks, and a decision by the relevant government authority. The word can also describe the broader process of making something seem natural, familiar, or normal, as in the naturalization of an unusual artistic or cultural practice. In environmental science, naturalization refers to the introduction and establishment of a species outside its original range. The term comes from the same Latin root as natural and nature. It is especially important in discussions of immigration, citizenship, civic belonging, and the relationship between residence and legal status.
nounThe legal process by which a person who is not already a citizen of a country becomes a citizen, usually through residence, application, and a government decision. More broadly, it means the process of making something natural, familiar, or accepted as normal.
- The legal process by which a person becomes a citizen of a country in which they are not originally a citizen.
- The process of making something natural, familiar, or seemingly normal.
- The introduction and establishment of a non-native species in a new environment.
"After living in the country for many years, she began the process of naturalization."
"He applied for naturalization after meeting the residency requirements."
"The film's careful storytelling contributed to the naturalization of its unusual subject."
Plural forms are used when referring to multiple cases, applications, ceremonies, or completed processes of acquiring citizenship.
"The agency handles naturalizations through an online application portal."
Naturalization turns legal residence into citizenship: a personal history becomes an official legal identity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does naturalization come from?
Naturalization is formed from naturalize, which in turn combines natural with the suffix -ize, plus the noun-forming suffix -ation. The adjective natural derives from Latin naturalis, meaning “of or according to nature,” which is related to nascere, “to be born.” The resulting noun entered English usage during the 19th century, initially in scientific and social contexts before becoming especially prominent in legal language concerning citizenship.
Related word forms
How naturalization is actually used
In legal and civic contexts, the term is most commonly associated with the acquisition of citizenship. The British spelling is naturalisation. Outside those contexts, it is sometimes used figuratively for the process of becoming familiar, accepted, or perceived as ordinary.
Easily confused with naturalization
Naturalisation is the British spelling of naturalization; both words refer to the same process.