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View synonyms for

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

/ əˈɒɪə /

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)

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • canonically adverb
  • supercanonical adjective
  • ˈԴDzԾ adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of canonical1

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin ōԾ, equivalent to ōԾ(ܲ) ( canon 2 ) + - -al 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

On May 4, Star Wars Day, he mocked a White House post featuring an AI-generated image of Trump holding a red lightsaber, the canonical weapon of the franchise’s villains.

From

The diocese said it was Rome's decision to shelve the case without a full canonical trial and that it conducted a preliminary investigation.

From

But I knew Joyce and I would have to have another rendezvous when I wasn’t in such a rush to check a canonical box.

From

The "hobbling" scene—she uses a sledgehammer to break Paul’s ankles—elevated her to canonical b***h status: a cunning, brutal and mercurial harridan who hides her malice behind a folksy façade.

From

The first “Eyes,” which premiered on PBS in 1987, was created by Henry Hampton and is a canonical work of not just the civil rights movement but also the docuseries format.

From

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canonesscanonical age