CultureAugust 31, 2026

canonization

kan-uh-nuh-ZAY-shun

Definition

The act of declaring or treating someone as being of great status or near-sainthood; in this context, it refers to elevating a person to a level of institutional prestige and honor.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word 'kanon' (meaning a measuring rod or rule), the term historically referred to the church's process of officially declaring a deceased person a saint.

In the news

A critic used this term to argue that giving John Galliano a solo retrospective at the Met Gala was an inappropriate act of veneration given his history of hate speech, rather than an act of forgiveness.

Metropolitan Museum of Art cancels exhibit on John Galliano following backlash over antisemitic comments

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World Israel News

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