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) ( 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

Ideas such as string theory, loop quantum gravity, canonical quantum gravity, and asymptotically safe gravity all attempt to bridge the gap.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

And a Sherlock who only vaguely resembles the hero of the canonical 56 stories and four novels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

The construction board, a private canonical foundation, had intended to complete work on the Sagrada Familia, considered the world's most famous unfinished building, this year.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

Everything from writer-director Celine Song’s screenplay to Lucy’s canonical salary and a trenchcoat she wears during one sequence has become the fodder of critique.

From Salon • Jun. 17, 2025

A “grand canonical ensemble” is, oddly enough, the proper term for a quantitative model system in thermodynamics, borrowed from music by way of mathematics.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas