canon event

noun

plural canon events

1

informal : an event that shapes how someone's personality develops : a formative experience in a person's life

[Ben] Basile had the opportunity to be the fill-in bass player for the New York City ska and reggae group Pilfers. This was Basile's canon event that would launch his career …

—Times-Standard (Eureka, California)

The repetitive nature of the guitar throughout the song almost ramps up these bottled emotions, and Lenker beautifully symbolizes the loss of childhood innocence or happiness that is a canon event for every person.

—Danica Ward

Not every Spider-Man experiences all the same canon events, but regardless these events are core to Spider-Man's identity. If a canon event is interfered with or prevented, it can lead to the unraveling of the Spider-Verse.

—Elena Cavender

2

informal : a common experience that many people remember as significant

It's a canon event for incoming freshmen to enter college a little overconfident after excelling at challenging AP courses in high school.

—themiamihurricane.com

The thrill of new school supplies seems like a canon event for most people. Seeing that perfect row of untouched crayons can send tingles up and down your spine.

—Bethany Heitman

Word History

Etymology

from attributive use of canon entry 1 in the sense "sanctioned, accepted (of plot points, characters, storylines, etc., governing a fictional world)"

First Known Use

2023, in the meaning defined at sense 1