Added 9 October 2026
canonical
/kəˈnɒn.ɪ.kəl/ adjective
Latin root: canōnicālis Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about canonical at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Present in a canon, religious or otherwise.
The Gospel of Luke is a canonical New Testament book.
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According to recognised or orthodox rules.
The men played golf in the most canonical way, with no local rules.
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Stated or used in the most basic and straightforwardly applicable manner.
the reduction of a linear substitution to its canonical form
noun
Origin
From Middle English canonycal, from Medieval Latin canōnicālis. By surface analysis, canon + -ical.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)