canonical

adjective

ca·​non·​i·​cal kə-ˈnä-ni-kəl How to pronounce canonical (audio)
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 adverb

Examples of canonical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The two Oscar-winning actors were united on screen for the first time ever in their careers for a short film in which the canonical Chanel bag plays a significant starring (if silent) role: This morning, that film received its surprise world premiere before the collection walked. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 Fashion’s Relationship With Crypto - Quiet Luxury To ‘Quiet Technology' In 2021, the fashion industry welcomed non-fungible tokens (NFTs – canonical product of the blockchain industry) as a flashy luxury good – a digital complement to round out physical catalogs. Jackie Berardo, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The toppling of monuments to canonical Russian figures and poets, such as Pushkin, who have become symbols of imperial power has been very symbolically important in places such as Ukraine. Merve Emre, The New York Review of Books, 13 Feb. 2024 Fox did a similar trick with X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), which saw Wolverine travel through time and cleanse the canonical inconsistencies of the franchise. Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Nirvana’s In Utero and Weezer’s Pinkerton are the canonical ‘90s alt-rock albums on which newly minted rock stars shell-shocked by their sudden multi-platinum fame defiantly made a tougher, uglier record under the pressure to keep the hits coming. Al Shipley, SPIN, 17 Jan. 2024 Who Did Jack the Ripper Kill? Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly comprise the victims of the five canonical crimes. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024 The book avoids a canonical perspective and instead focuses on an archival approach. Isabelia Herrera, Pitchfork, 28 Nov. 2023 The exhibition features images that have become canonical for design students, such as his cheeky 2008 Marc Jacobs advertisement with Victoria Beckham’s legs popping out of a shopping bag and a tight portrait of Saint Laurent, weathered by age. Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, 8 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'canonical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see canon entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of canonical was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near canonical

Cite this Entry

“Canonical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canonical. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

canonical

adjective
ca·​non·​i·​cal kə-ˈnän-i-kəl How to pronounce canonical (audio)
1
: relating to or allowed by church law
2
: following a general rule or accepted procedure
canonically adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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