Beatify
v.kind, hopefulformal
What it means
To formally declare a deceased person blessed in the Roman Catholic Church.
Reach for it when referring precisely to the church step that precedes possible canonization
Church authorities voted to beatify the nurse after the required inquiry.
Choose between these
5- everyday
declare blessed
plain explanation is needed for readers outside the church
not when The phrase may describe an informal judgment unless the church process is named.
- formal
canonize
the intended act is the later declaration of sainthood
not when Canonize is not interchangeable with beatify and marks a different stage.
- formal
the focus is honoring a holy person
not when Veneration can occur without any formal declaration by church authority.
- literary
exalted praise rather than a legal church process is meant
not when Glorify can imply excessive praise and is inaccurate for beatification.
- literary
something is made or treated as sacred
not when Sanctify applies broadly to places and acts, not this specific status.
Said against
3- condemn
- excommunicate
- denounce
It naturally appears in
3- move to beatify
The diocese chose to move to beatify the physician only after reviewing the archive.
- decision to beatify
The decision to beatify her followed decades of documented devotion.
- petition to beatify
A petition to beatify the monk included testimony from several communities.
Where this comes from
Beatify names a specific Roman Catholic process. It should not be presented as a general synonym for praise or blessing.
- Wiktionary, English verb sense: Roman Catholic declaration of blessed status opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.