canonical

[ kuh-non-i-kuhl ]
See synonyms for canonical on Thesaurus.com
adjectiveAlso ca·non·ic.
  1. relating to, established by, or conforming to a canon or canons

  2. included in the canon of the Bible.

  1. authorized; recognized; accepted: canonical works.

  2. Mathematics. (of an equation, coordinate, etc.) in simplest or standard form.

  3. following the pattern of a musical canon.

  4. 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.

Origin of canonical

1
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin canōnicālis, equivalent to canōnic(us) (see canon2) + -ālis -al1

Other words from canonical

  • ca·non·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • su·per·ca·non·i·cal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use canonical in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for canonical

canonical

canonic

/ (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

  1. according to recognized law; accepted

  2. music in the form of a canon

  3. of or relating to a cathedral chapter

  4. of or relating to a canon (clergyman)

Derived forms of canonical

  • canonically, adverb

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