canonical

adjective

ca·​non·​i·​cal kə-ˈnä-ni-kəl 

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

kə-ˈnä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of canonical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the second part of the play, published in 1832, Goethe jettisons the orthodox punishments of the canonical accounts and has Faust sweetly ascend to Heaven: in the nineteenth century, the old theology is becoming romantically weightless. —James Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2024

Outdoor ads for this were plastered in Times Square and in Wolverine’s canonical hometown of Alberta, Canada. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 29 July 2024

The menu changes on the regular, though canonical drinks like the Tommy's Margarita and the Blood & Sand are forever available for ordering. —Scott Hocker, theweek, 1 July 2024

The big one is that the ideal canonical format for storing data long-term is plaintext. —Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 24 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

see canon entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing canonical

• canonical form
• canonical hour

Kids Definition

canonical

adjective

ca·​non·​i·​cal kə-ˈnän-i-kəl 

1

: relating to or allowed by church law

2

: following a general rule or accepted procedure

canonically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb