1. to officially declare someone a saint in the Christian church
Usage: British spelling
2. to treat something as being very important or beyond criticism
Usage: formal

Examples

• The Catholic Church canonised Mother Teresa in 2016.
• Joan of Arc was canonised as a saint in 1920.
• Critics argue that we shouldn’t canonise historical figures without examining their flaws.
• The university canonised the professor’s research methods as the gold standard.
• Many cultures canonise their founding myths and stories.
• The committee voted to canonise the new safety protocols.