canon law

noun

: the usually codified law governing a church

Examples of canon law in a Sentence

a marriage valid under Catholic canon law

Recent Examples on the Web

Prevost attended Villanova University and Catholic Theological Union in Chicago before earning a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 9 May 2025

Pope Leo was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 14, 1955, and studied at Villanova University and the Catholic Theological Union, and later studied canon law at Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

Brothers of Pope Leo XIV share their reactions 01:43 In Peru, Leo served as a missionary and taught canon law and was later appointed apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and later the bishop of Chiclayo. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 9 May 2025

Prevost would be an effective administrator as head of the church and was an expert in church canon law. —Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 9 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for canon law

• allantois
• baccarat
• chickasaw
• mackinaw
• overawe
• oversaw
• quebecois
• yojana
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw

Kids Definition

canon law

noun

: the body of religious laws that govern a church

Legal Definition

canon law

noun

: a body of religious law governing the conduct of members of a particular faith

especially : the codified church law of the Roman Catholic Church

Note: Common law has been influenced by canon law in the areas of marriage and inheritance. Roman Catholic canon law, like the civil law, has been modeled on ancient Roman law. The source for Roman Catholic canon law is the Code of Canon Law. The Rudder (Pedalion) is a source for Greek Orthodox canon law. Jewish canon law is contained in the Talmud.