canonical: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “canonical” mean?
Conforming to a general rule, principle, or accepted standard.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Conforming to a general rule, principle, or accepted standard; authoritative.
Also refers to something being in its simplest or standard form, or pertaining to a canon (e.g., of religious literature, artistic works, or computer science).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Similar academic/technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in academic contexts in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “canonical” in a Sentence
[ADJ] + [NOUN] (canonical text)[BE] + canonical + [TO + INF] (is canonical to consider)[VERB] + [OBJ] + [as] + canonical (regard something as canonical)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “canonical” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The church council voted to canonicalise the new texts.
- Scholars debate which works to canonicalise.
American English
- The committee moved to canonize the selected manuscripts.
- They sought to canonize the early founding principles.
adverb
British English
- The procedure is canonically defined in the manual.
American English
- The data is stored canonically in a single master file.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might refer to 'canonical processes' or 'canonical data models' in IT strategy.
Academic
Common in literature, theology, computer science, and linguistics to denote standard texts, forms, or models.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used by educated speakers discussing art, religion, or established rules.
Technical
Very common in computing (e.g., canonical URLs, canonical forms), mathematics, and engineering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “canonical”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “canonical”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “canonical”
- Misspelling as 'canonical' (double 'n'). Using it as a synonym for 'typical' without the connotation of being the official standard.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its origin relates to religious canon, it is widely used in academia, computing, mathematics, and art to refer to any authoritative or standard form.
'Canonical' implies a formal, often officially sanctioned or historically established standard, carrying more weight and authority than the more general 'standard'.
It refers to the preferred, master version of a webpage's address, used to avoid duplicate content issues and consolidate ranking signals for search engines.
It can, in contexts where established authority is being challenged. Phrases like 'challenging the canonical view' or 'breaking from canonical tradition' imply criticism of orthodoxy.
Conforming to a general rule, principle, or accepted standard.
Canonical is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Canonical: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈnɒnɪk(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈnɑːnɪk(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “canonical hours (Ecclesiastical)”
- “enter the canon”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CANON (a large, authoritative set of rules or texts) + ICAL (adjective suffix). What is 'canonical' belongs to the official canon.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS ORTHODOXY (The standard version holds power and truth).
Practice
Quiz
In which field would 'canonical form' MOST likely be discussed?