canonical

adjective

ca·​non·​i·​cal kə-ˈnä-ni-kəl How to pronounce canonical (audio)
Synonyms of canonical
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 clergyperson who is a canon
4
: reduced to the canonical form
a canonical matrix
canonically
kə-ˈnä-ni-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce canonical (audio)
adverb

Examples of canonical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The canonical example is Air France flight 447, which fell into the Atlantic in 2009. — IEEE Spectrum, 2 Sep. 2026 The Guerrilla Girls are now canonical within art history, and people often accept their work as though it has always been recognized as important. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Her drawings hung beside pieces by Henry Darger, Bill Traylor, and James Castle—canonical artists in the genre. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 According to Bakes, Soto received an identical copy of the canonical petition but declined to investigate the school. — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for canonical

Word History

Etymology

see canon entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of canonical was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing canonical

Rhymes for canonical

See All Rhymes for canonical

Browse Nearby Words

canonic
canonical
canonical age
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Canonical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canonical. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

canonical

adjective
ca·​non·​i·​cal kə-ˈnän-i-kəl How to pronounce canonical (audio)
1
: relating to or allowed by church law
2
: following a general rule or accepted procedure
canonically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce canonical (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on canonical

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for canonical

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