canon law

noun

1. the body of codified ecclesiastical law, especially of the Roman Catholic Church as promulgated in ecclesiastical councils and by the pope.

canon law

noun

1. See Codex Juris Canonici, Corpus Juris Canonici
   the law governing the affairs of a Christian Church, esp the law created or recognized by papal authority in the Roman Catholic Church See Corpus Juris Canonici Codex Juris Canonici

Other Words From

• canon lawyer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of canon law¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Example Sentences

Ensure that legislation will not affect the canon law of the Church of England or the Church in Wales.

From The Daily Beast

Dr. Adam Weishaupt, professor of canon law at Ingolstadt, founded the secret society of the illuminati.

From Project Gutenberg

The civil and the canon law, as well as the law of England, all declared that a man should be held liable only for his own acts.

From Project Gutenberg

By the canon law obstinate heretics were to be burnt by the secular The 15th century.

From Project Gutenberg

The word, in somewhat a similar sense, had its origin in the canon law.

From Project Gutenberg

You have surely given him a great enough dose of diplomatics and canon law by this time.

From Project Gutenberg