naturalization
noun
nat·u·ral·i·za·tion
ˌna-ch(ə-)rə-lə-ˈzā-shən 
plural naturalizations
: the act or process of naturalizing : the state of being naturalized: such as
a
: the course of action undertaken to become a citizen of a country other than the country where one was born
I complete the application for naturalization, wondering whether I know enough American history and government, and whether I could be disqualified for not knowing all the unmemorable lines of Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner."—
Judy Ray
Judy Ray
b
of a non-native plant or animal
: the process of becoming or the state of being established in the wild so that growth and reproduction is possible without human intervention
This phenomenon follows the typical pattern of invading plant and animal species, the gradual process of naturalization by which ecological balance tends to reassert.—John Eastman
John EastmanExamples of naturalization in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The league will partner with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters on Jan. 22 to register new voters after their naturalization ceremonies at the Heritage Theater in Campell.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2025
In Ohio, the Republican secretary of state revised the form that poll workers use for voter eligibility challenges to require those not born in the U.S. to show naturalization papers to cast a regular ballot.
—John Hanna, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024
The letters request the residents mail in proof of citizenship to the state Division of Elections in the form of a copy of their birth certificate, passport, or naturalization document ― or request to be removed from the state’s voter rolls.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 2 July 2024
Where naturalization oath ceremonies no longer have names like Restrepo or Adeyemi or Zhao or Farooq.
—Alejandro Puyana, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
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Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2025
In Ohio, the Republican secretary of state revised the form that poll workers use for voter eligibility challenges to require those not born in the U.S. to show naturalization papers to cast a regular ballot.
—John Hanna, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024
The letters request the residents mail in proof of citizenship to the state Division of Elections in the form of a copy of their birth certificate, passport, or naturalization document ― or request to be removed from the state’s voter rolls.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 2 July 2024
Where naturalization oath ceremonies no longer have names like Restrepo or Adeyemi or Zhao or Farooq.
—Alejandro Puyana, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for naturalization
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Cite this Entry
“Naturalization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naturalization. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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