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
Examples of canonical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In this way, a seemingly canonical tale of triumphant escape from working-class life turns out not to be so canonical after all.
—
James Wood, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Though Superman has had a few different canonical backstories in the comics, no mainstream origin had a Jor-El who sent his son to Earth for nefarious reasons.
—James Grebey, Time, 11 July 2025
There are references to works by canonical Afrikaans writers like Eugène Marais, Totius, and C.J. Langenhoven, each adding its own resonance.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2025
What if our canonical knowledge of this world — and the characters’ knowledge of it — were off?
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for canonical
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James Wood, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Though Superman has had a few different canonical backstories in the comics, no mainstream origin had a Jor-El who sent his son to Earth for nefarious reasons.
—James Grebey, Time, 11 July 2025
There are references to works by canonical Afrikaans writers like Eugène Marais, Totius, and C.J. Langenhoven, each adding its own resonance.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2025
What if our canonical knowledge of this world — and the characters’ knowledge of it — were off?
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for canonical
Cite this Entry
“Canonical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canonical. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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