canonical Definition
- 1according to or ordered by canon law.
- 2included in the list of sacred books officially accepted as genuine.
- 3conforming to a general rule or principle.
Using canonical: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "canonical" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The canonical hours of prayer in the Catholic Church are seven.
Example
The canonical gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Example
The canonical way to greet someone in this culture is to bow.
canonical Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for canonical
Antonyms for canonical
Phrases with canonical
works that are considered to be of the highest quality or importance in a particular field or genre
Example
Shakespeare's plays are considered canonical literature in English.
Example
The canonical form of a quadratic equation is ax² + bx + c = 0.
canonical URL
the preferred URL for a webpage when there are several possible URLs that could lead to the same content
Example
Using a canonical URL can help prevent duplicate content issues on a website.
Origins of canonical
from late Latin 'canonicus', from Latin 'canon' meaning 'rule'
Summary: canonical in Brief
The term 'canonical' [kəˈnɒnɪkl] refers to something that conforms to a general rule or principle. It can also refer to something that is included in the list of sacred books officially accepted as genuine or according to or ordered by canon law. Examples include the canonical hours of prayer in the Catholic Church and the canonical gospels. The term extends into phrases like 'canonical literature,' denoting works of the highest quality or importance, and 'canonical URL,' referring to the preferred URL for a webpage.