canonical

adjective

ca·​non·​i·​cal kə-ˈnä-ni-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or forming a canon

canonical scriptures

2

: conforming to a general rule or acceptable procedure : orthodox

His proposals were generally accepted as canonical.

3

: of or relating to a clergyman who is a canon

4

: reduced to the canonical form

a canonical matrix

canonically

kə-ˈnä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of canonical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her tales of power-hungry telepaths and erotic alien encounters are now canonical, in science fiction and beyond. —Stephen Kearse, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

The location was canonical: on Whitehall, opposite the Cenotaph, Britain’s most important monument to its war dead. —Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025

In fact, literary historians believe the canonical Dracula borrowed or plagiarized tropes from the novella as source material. —Sally Tamarkin, Them, 23 Dec. 2024

New installments in the Star Wars universe carry with them everything that’s already happened in this fictional world — in all the films, in the new TV shows, and in whichever of the novels later designated as canonical. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see canon entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing canonical

• canonical form
• canonical hour

Kids Definition

canonical

adjective

ca·​non·​i·​cal kə-ˈnän-i-kəl 

1

: relating to or allowed by church law

2

: following a general rule or accepted procedure

canonically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb