canonical

[ kuh-non-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. relating to, established by, or conforming to a canon or canons
2. included in the canon of the Bible.
3. authorized; recognized; accepted:

   canonical works.

4. Mathematics. (of an equation, coordinate, etc.) in simplest or standard form.
5. following the pattern of a musical canon.
6. Linguistics. (of a form or pattern) characteristic, general or basic:

   the canonical form of the past tense;

   a canonical syllable pattern.

noun

1. canonicals, garments prescribed by canon law for clergy when officiating.

canonical

/ kəˈnɒnɪkəl /

adjective

1. belonging to or included in a canon of sacred or other officially recognized writings
2. belonging to or in conformity with canon law
3. according to recognized law; accepted
4. music in the form of a canon
5. of or relating to a cathedral chapter
6. of or relating to a canon (clergyman)

Derived Forms

• caˈnonically, adverb

Other Words From

• ca·noni·cal·ly adverb
• super·ca·noni·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of canonical¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin canōnicālis, equivalent to canōnic(us) ( canon ² ) + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

These included a prohibition on White House meddling in Justice Department prosecutions that took on canonical status.

From Los Angeles Times

To them, a Colombian actor wasn’t qualified to play a princess with a canonical history of having “skin as white as snow.”

From Los Angeles Times

So whenever I think about programming a canonical play, a part of my heart pushes against taking one of our season’s few slots away from a living writer.

From Los Angeles Times

Muse-ing doesn’t get much more canonical than that one-two shot, on top of the fact that her clothes on Richards’ frame secured him fashion status, too.

From Los Angeles Times

She finds absurd photos on the internet to juxtapose with canonical paintings that happen to be similar.

From New York Times