canonical

[kəˈnɒnɪkl]

canonical Definition

• 1. according to or ordered by canon law.
• 2. included in the list of sacred books officially accepted as genuine.
• 3. conforming 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

• authorized
• accepted
• approved
• recognized
• legitimate

Antonyms for canonical

• unauthorized
• unapproved
• unrecognized

Phrases with canonical

• canonical literature

  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.

• canonical form

  a standard or recognized form of something

  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'

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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.