The legal process by which a person who was born in one country becomes a citizen of another country. It can also mean the process of a plant or animal becoming established in a new environment.
From 'naturalize' + '-ation', from Middle French 'naturaliser' and Late Latin 'naturalizare' meaning 'to make natural or native'. Over time it shifted from making something 'natural' to making someone a 'legal native' of a country.
Naturalization is literally about 'making someone native' on paper, even if they were born elsewhere. It shows how laws can 'rewrite' where you officially belong, even though your birthplace never changes.
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