canonical
adjective
ca·non·i·cal
kə-ˈnä-ni-kəl 
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 clergyman who is a canon
4
: reduced to the canonical form
a canonical matrix
Examples of canonical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While Phillips' films were always intended to be a standalone project that exists in a distinctly different timeline than the DC Extended Universe, Folie à Deux's closing twist shines a whole new light on the origin story of this world's canonical Joker, who—spoiler alert—isn't Arthur.
—
Megan McCluskey, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024
Joker and directed by Todd Phillips, the two films draw inspiration from DC Comics characters, rather than provide a canonical (or extended cinematic universe) rendition of the Joker’s origin story.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Under the experimenter’s direction, two thirds of participants in the study’s canonical version continued to the highest voltage level, even when the learner complained of heart problems and later stopped screaming, presumably having lost consciousness.
—Laura Niemi, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024
These are artists whose longevity has rested not on crossover, but on the ability to make canonical and distinctly African anthems that people of all ages have enjoyed.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for canonical 
Megan McCluskey, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024
Joker and directed by Todd Phillips, the two films draw inspiration from DC Comics characters, rather than provide a canonical (or extended cinematic universe) rendition of the Joker’s origin story.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Under the experimenter’s direction, two thirds of participants in the study’s canonical version continued to the highest voltage level, even when the learner complained of heart problems and later stopped screaming, presumably having lost consciousness.
—Laura Niemi, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2024
These are artists whose longevity has rested not on crossover, but on the ability to make canonical and distinctly African anthems that people of all ages have enjoyed.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for canonical
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'canonical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near canonical
Cite this Entry
“Canonical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canonical. Accessed 18 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
canonical
adjective
ca·non·i·cal
kə-ˈnän-i-kəl
1
: relating to or allowed by church law
2
: following a general rule or accepted procedure
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