Canonical
/kəˈnɒnɪkəl/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Canonical describes things that follow an accepted rule or standard. It often relates to official books, ideas, or laws that are recognized as true or correct by a group, like religious texts or important stories. When something is canonical, it means it is part of the official set or the original, accepted version.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Accepted as part of official rules, texts, or traditions
- •The canonical gospels are the four books accepted by most Christians.
- •In literature, the canonical works are the most important and recognized books.
- •The professor explained the canonical form of the mathematical equation.
Following a standard or rule in a particular field
- •The software follows the canonical process for data security.
- •Artists often study canonical techniques before creating their own style.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "canonical" like "official" (A1 word), but more about rules or important lists that everyone agrees on
- ✓Picture a big book on a shelf that holds the "official" stories or rules everyone must follow
- ✓It's the feeling of knowing something is the "real" or "true" version, like the original story your teacher tells you
- ✓Sounds like "CAN-on-i-cal" → imagine a "can" that holds all the official rules inside it, sealed and trusted
- ✓Think of famous stories like fairy tales—only some versions are canonical, the ones everyone agrees are correct
- ✓NOT like "fake" or "unofficial" versions—canonical means accepted and true by a group
- ✓NOT like "new" or "different" ideas—canonical means traditional and established
- ✓NOT like "optional" or "personal" opinions—canonical means part of the official or standard set
Try Other Words
- •Standard: something widely accepted as normal or usual (Use when talking about common or usual rules or forms)
- •Authoritative: accepted as true and correct by experts (Use when emphasizing expert approval)
- •Traditional: following long-established customs or ideas (Use when focusing on history or customs)
- •Official: formally accepted or approved by authority (Use in general contexts of approval)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "canon" (a rule or collection of accepted works) + "-ical" (adjective ending meaning "related to")
- •Etymology: From Greek "kanon" meaning "rule" or "measuring stick," through Latin and Old French
- •Historical development: Originally used in religious contexts for accepted books of the Bible; later extended to mean accepted standards in many areas
- •Modern usage: Used in religion, literature, science, and technology to describe accepted, standard, or official forms or rules
Reflect & Connect
•How does knowing something is canonical affect the way people trust or use that information?
•Can new ideas become canonical over time, or does canonical mean something fixed and unchangeable?
Fill in the blanks
1.The canonical version of the story is the one that most people ___ as true and original.
2.In many religions, canonical texts are considered ___ and must be respected.
3.Unlike unofficial versions, canonical works follow ___ accepted rules or traditions.
4.When a process is called canonical, it means it follows a ___ standard everyone agrees on.
5.Some books are not canonical because they were ___ by the main group or community.
6.The teacher asked us to study the canonical form of the equation to understand the ___ method.
7.New ideas may take time before they become ___ in a field or culture.