Word
naturalization
Phoneticsnat·u·ral·iza·tion
/ˈnætʃɝəɫəˈzeɪʃən/
UK spelling · naturalisation
Definition
n. the legal process of becoming a citizen of a country. It usually involves living in the country for a certain amount of time and passing a test about the language and history.
n. the legal process by which a foreign national acquires the nationality of another country. Often involves a period of residency, a language proficiency test, and a demonstration of knowledge of the host country's history and government.
Examples
“The process of naturalization can take several years.”
“After living in the city for five years and passing the citizenship exam, she applied for naturalization.”
“The legal framework for naturalization varies significantly between nations, often reflecting historical tensions between the desire for national security and the need for a diverse, skilled workforce.”
Examples
simple
“The process of naturalization can take several years.”
contextual
“After living in the city for five years and passing the citizenship exam, she applied for naturalization.”
complex
“The legal framework for naturalization varies significantly between nations, often reflecting historical tensions between the desire for national security and the need for a diverse, skilled workforce.”
Real-World Examples
“The text grants Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born before September 29, 1977 and to their children through naturalisation, even if they never resided in Spain.” “These official absences at the border reflected rather open policies toward immigration and naturalisation before the 1920s.” Etymology
From Middle French naturalisation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.