in Law, the act of naturalizing an alien, or putting him into the condition of a natural born subject, and entitling him to the rights and privileges thereof. But none can be naturalized unless they have received the sacrament within one month before the bringing in of the bill, and taken the oaths of allegiance and supremacy in the presence of the parliament. A person who is naturalized may have lands by descent, as heir at law, as well as obtain them by purchase; but he is disabled from being a member of the privy council or parliament; or from holding offices, 7 Jac. I. cap. 2. 12 Will. III. cap. 2. All children born out of the king's dominions, whose fathers were or are subjects of this kingdom at the time of their birth, are adjudged to be natural born subjects of this realm, except children of parents attainted of treason, or that are in the actual service of a foreign prince at enmity with us, 4 Geo. II. cap. 21. Every foreign seaman, who in time of war serves two years on board an English ship, is ipso facto naturalized, 13 Geo. II. cap. 3. And all foreign Protestants and Jews, upon their residing seven years in any of the British colonies, without being absent above two months at a time, or serving two years in a military capacity there, are upon taking the oaths naturalized to all intents and purposes, as if they had been born in this kingdom; and therefore are admissible to all such privileges, and no other, as Protestants or Jews born in this kingdom are entitled to. See ALIEN and DEZINIZEN.

In France before the Revolution, naturalization was the king's prerogative; in England it is only done by act of parliament. In the former of those places, before their government was overturned, Switz, Savoyards, and Scots, did not require naturalization, being reputed regniques, or natives.