cannon

1 of 2

noun

can·​non ˈka-nən 

plural cannons or cannon

1

plural usually cannon

a

: a large, heavy gun usually mounted on a carriage

b

: a heavy-caliber automatic aircraft gun firing explosive shells

c

: any device for propelling a substance or object at high speeds

an air cannon

a T-shirt cannon

see also water cannon

2

or canon : the projecting part of a bell by which it is hung : ear

3

: the part of the leg in which the cannon bone is found

4

sports, informal : a very strong throwing arm

While Hershberger had a quick, accurate arm, Lombardi had a cannon.

—William Nack

a shortstop with a cannon arm

cannon

2 of 2

verb

cannoned; cannoning; cannons

intransitive verb

: to discharge cannon

transitive verb

: cannonade

Did you know?

What is the difference between cannon and canon?

Cannon and canon are occasionally confused by writers, but the two words have independent origins, and do not share a meaning. Cannon is most frequently found used in the sense of "a large gun," and can be traced to the Old Italian word cannone, which means "large tube." Canon, however, comes from the Greek word kanōn, meaning "rule." Although canon has a variety of meanings, it is most often found in the senses of "a rule or law of a church," "an accepted rule," or "a sanctioned or accepted group or body of related works." A loose cannon is "a dangerously uncontrollable person or thing." There are no loose canons.

Examples of cannon in a Sentence

Verb

The ball cannoned off the goalpost and into the net.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Contemporary sources suggested that cannon fire struck a stash of gunpowder aboard the San José, triggering a massive explosion that caused the ship to sink, but more recent research points to the galleon splitting open. —Aurora Martínez, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025

The San José and two of its fellow ships subsequently engaged in a cannon battle with their enemies while most of the fleet retreated to Cartagena. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 June 2025

Verb

His equaliser against Leganes in March was a perfect example, with Bellingham sharpest to react when a shot cannoned off the crossbar. —Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 22 May 2025

His 79th-minute header from Andy Robertson’s free kick beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma but cannoned off the upright and across the face of the goal with no Liverpool player able to follow up, and the Premier League leaders ended up losing the last-16 tie in a penalty shootout. —Andy Jones, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English canon, from Anglo-French, from Old Italian cannone, literally, large tube, augmentative of canna reed, tube, from Latin, cane, reed — more at cane

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1567, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing cannon

• cannon bone
• cannon fodder
• loose cannon
• water cannon

Rhymes for cannon

• canon
• fanon
• mannan
• tannin
• olecranon
• trianon

Kids Definition

cannon

noun

can·​non

ˈkan-ən

plural cannons or cannon

1

: a large heavy gun usually mounted on wheels

2

: an automatic gun of large caliber on an airplane

Medical Definition

cannon

noun

can·​non ˈkan-ən 

: the part of the leg in which the cannon bone is found

Biographical Definition

Cannon

biographical name

Can·​non ˈka-nən 

Joseph Gurney 1836–1926 Uncle Joe American politician