# canon

/ˈkænən/ (US) · /kˈænən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/canon
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. accepted works

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a collection of books, music, or art that people generally agree are the most important or high-quality.

For teachers: a body of writings or artistic works established as authentic or of the highest quality within a specific field.

- Shakespeare's plays are a central part of the Western literary canon.
- Scholars have spent decades debating which marginalized voices should be integrated into the traditional academic canon of English literature.

### 2. fictional continuity

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

the official events and characters in a story world, like Star Wars or Marvel, that are considered 'real' by the creators.

For teachers: the body of work in a fictional universe that is considered official or authoritative by its creators and fanbase.

- In the new movie, that character's death is now officially part of the canon.
- Fans were outraged when the studio decided that the expanded universe novels were no longer considered part of the official canon.

### 3. a rule or principle

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a general rule or principle that people use to judge something.

For teachers: a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged.

- The canons of good taste suggest that you shouldn't wear neon to a funeral.
- The architect's work strictly adhered to the classical canons of proportion and symmetry established during the Renaissance.

### 4. church law

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a rule or law made by a church.

For teachers: a regulation or dogma decreed by a church council or authority.

- The priest explained the church canon regarding marriage and divorce.
- The council met to revise several points of canon law that had remained unchanged for centuries.

### 5. musical round

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a piece of music where different voices sing the same tune but start at different times.

For teachers: a contrapuntal musical composition in which a melody is imitated by one or more parts at fixed intervals.

- The children sang a simple canon in three parts during the concert.
- The composer utilized a complex double canon to demonstrate his mastery of polyphonic structures.

### 6. a member of clergy

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a priest who works at a large church called a cathedral.

For teachers: a member of the clergy who belongs to a cathedral or collegiate church.

- The canon led the procession into the cathedral for the morning service.
- As a canon of the cathedral, he was responsible for both liturgical duties and the administration of the church's historical archives.

### 7. cut of meat

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Technical

a long, lean piece of meat, usually lamb, that has been tied up.

For teachers: a cut of meat, typically the eye of the loin, filleted and rolled into a cylindrical shape.

- The chef prepared a roasted canon of lamb served with seasonal vegetables.
- For the main course, the restaurant features a pan-seared canon of venison sourced from local estates.

### 8. official

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

describing something that is part of the official story or rules.

For teachers: pertaining to or forming part of the official body of work or continuity; a clipping of 'canonical'.

- Is that scene actually canon, or did a fan just make it up?
- The writers confirmed that the spin-off series is fully canon and will impact the plot of the main show.

## Examples

- In the original canon, the two characters never actually meet.
- Fans often debate whether the new television series should be considered part of the official canon or a separate timeline.
- The author's decision to release a prequel significantly altered the established canon, forcing scholars to re-evaluate the protagonist's early motivations in light of the new information.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.