canon

noun can·on \ ˈka-nən \

Tip: Synonym Guide

Editor's Note: What is the difference between cannon and canon?

Definition of canon

1 a : a regulation or dogma decreed by a church council

b : a provision of canon law

[Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin, from Latin, model]

: the most solemn and unvarying part of the Mass including the consecration of the bread and wine

[Middle English, from Late Latin, from Latin, standard]

a : an authoritative list of books accepted as Holy Scripture

b : the authentic works of a writer

the Chaucer canon

c : a sanctioned or accepted group or body of related works

the canon of great literature

4 a : an accepted principle or rule

b : a criterion or standard of judgment

the canons of good taste

c : a body of principles, rules, standards, or norms

according to newspaper canon … a big story calls for a lot of copy
—A. J. Liebling

[Late Greek kanōn, from Greek, model]

: a contrapuntal musical composition in which each successively entering voice presents the initial theme usually transformed in a strictly consistent way

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.

Origin and Etymology of canon

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Latin, ruler, rule, model, standard, from Greek kanōn

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of canon

law, rule, regulation, precept, statute, ordinance, canon mean a principle governing action or procedure. law implies imposition by a sovereign authority and the obligation of obedience on the part of all subject to that authority.

- obey the law

rule applies to more restricted or specific situations.

- the rules of the game

regulation implies prescription by authority in order to control an organization or system.

- regulations affecting nuclear power plants

precept commonly suggests something advisory and not obligatory communicated typically through teaching.

- the precepts of effective writing

statute implies a law enacted by a legislative body.

- a statute requiring the use of seat belts

ordinance applies to an order governing some detail of procedure or conduct enforced by a limited authority such as a municipality.

- a city ordinance

canon suggests in nonreligious use a principle or rule of behavior or procedure commonly accepted as a valid guide.

- the canons of good taste

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

canon

noun

Definition of canon

1 : a clergyman belonging to the chapter or the staff of a cathedral or collegiate church

2 : canon regular

Origin and Etymology of canon

Middle English canoun, from Anglo-French *canoun, chanoun, from Late Latin canonicus one living under a rule, from Latin, according to rule, from Greek kanonikos, from kanōn

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year