canonical

American  

[kuh-non-i-kuhl] / kəˈnɒn ɪ kəl /

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.

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noun

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

canonical British  

/ 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)

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Other Word Forms

• canonically
  adverb
• supercanonical
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of canonical

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

Explanation

If something's canonical, it follows a principle or rule, usually in a religious or church-related situation. It is also used in mathematics, music and can refer to something reduced to its most basic form. The word canonical is from the root canon, with both evolving from the Latin cononicus, or "according to rule," a meaning applied to religion during the Middle Ages. However, the definition of "rules" also applies in other areas as well. In mathematics, the word is used to describe an equation reduced to its most basic form. In canonical music, a melody line is repeated at intervals throughout a piece. Perhaps the most familiar of these is Pachebel's "Canon in D."

Example Sentences

Canonical anthems such as Julia Ward Howe’s “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” are filed alongside such modern compositions as Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.”

From Washington Post • Sep. 2, 2020

Canonical works may not be immediately relevant to us, since 95 percent of them were not written in our time.

From New York Times • Oct. 31, 2019

In December, Altoona-Johnstown revealed that it spent $21,491,052 from July 1, 1999 until Dec. 1, 2018 for settlements/awards, legal fees, survivor counseling and clergy compensation for religious leaders awaiting outcomes of Canonical investigations.

From Washington Times • Jul. 13, 2019

Lipsyte sometimes satirizes this world in lightly parodic ways, like the strip club that fancies itself a “post-cis neo-vaudeville burlesque” or the museum exhibition titled “Minor Whites: Contemplating Canonical Chaff.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2019

From the same source, which was obviously not our Canonical Gospels, we have, therefore, reason to conclude that Athenagoras derived all his knowledge of Gospel history and doctrine.

From Supernatural Religion, Vol. II. (of III) An Inquiry into the Reality of Divine Revelation by Cassels, Walter Richard