conon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Academic
Quick answer
What does “conon” mean?
A general rule, principle, or law by which something is judged, especially in literature or art.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A general rule, principle, or law by which something is judged, especially in literature or art; a collection or authoritative list of books, scriptures, or works considered genuine or important.
A body of writings, music, or art recognized as genuine and important within a particular field or tradition. Also used to describe the set of fundamental beliefs, standards, or laws in a church, academic discipline, or cultural sphere. In music, a contrapuntal composition in which a melody in one part is imitated successively in other parts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation are identical. Usage is consistent in academic, religious, and literary contexts.
Connotations
No significant connotative differences.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both varieties, concentrated in specialist discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “conon” in a Sentence
[be] part of the [literary] canon[include] in the canon[establish/form] a canon of [works][challenge/expand] the canonVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard)
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- The canon law of the Church was debated.
- Her work is considered a canonical text in the field.
American English
- Canon law principles were applied.
- It's a canonical example of post-modern architecture.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically for 'standard procedure'.
Academic
Very common. Refers to established authors, texts, or theories in a field (e.g., 'the sociological canon').
Everyday
Uncommon. Mostly encountered in discussions of books, films, or art.
Technical
Common in literary criticism, musicology (musical canon), and theology (biblical canon).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conon”
- Misspelling as 'cannon' (the weapon) in writing.
- Using it as a verb (it's almost exclusively a noun).
- Mispronouncing to rhyme with 'anon' /ə'nɒn/ instead of /'kænən/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Canon' (one 'n') refers to a rule, principle, or authoritative collection (e.g., literary canon). 'Cannon' (two 'n's) is a large, mounted gun.
No, 'canon' is almost exclusively a noun. The rare verb form 'canonise' (British) / 'canonize' (American) means to declare someone a saint or to place in a canon.
Yes, it is most commonly used in formal, academic, artistic, or religious contexts. It is less common in everyday casual conversation.
Yes, the standard plural is 'canons'. For example: 'Different cultures have different literary canons.'
A general rule, principle, or law by which something is judged, especially in literature or art.
Conon: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkanən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkænən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “canon fodder (pun on 'cannon fodder')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A CANON is the rule, the accepted collection. Imagine a big book of rules with the label 'CANON' on the cover to distinguish it from a weapon.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A LIST; TRADITION IS A COLLECTION; QUALITY IS CENTRALITY (within the canon).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'canon' correctly?