English Meaning & Definitions
A general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged.
- “The painting is a fine example of the canons of Renaissance art.”
- “He lived his life according to the strict canons of professional conduct.”
The list of works considered to be permanently established as being of the highest quality or of an author's genuine creation.
- “Shakespeare's plays form an essential part of the English literary canon.”
- “Fans fiercely debate which spin-off novels fit into the official franchise canon.”
A piece of music in which two or more voices or parts play or sing the same melody starting at different times.
- “Pachelbel's Canon is one of the most famous classical pieces ever written.”
- “The choir practiced singing a complex three-part canon.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “canon”.
Derived from Old English 'canone', via Old French and Latin from the Greek 'kanōn', meaning 'straight rod' or 'rule'. Originally used in ecclesiastical contexts to refer to a decree or the books of the Bible officially accepted as holy Scripture, the term later expanded to represent general laws, standards, or an author's accepted body of works.
Think of a 'canon' as a strict ruler or standard, just like a metal 'cannons' shoots straight by fixed laws of physics.
Frequently Asked Questions About “canon”
1. What is the meaning of “canon” in English?
In English, canon (noun) is defined as: “A general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged.”.
2. How do you use “canon” in a sentence?
“The painting is a fine example of the canons of Renaissance art.”
3. What are English synonyms of “canon”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “canon”?
Derived from Old English 'canone', via Old French and Latin from the Greek 'kanōn', meaning 'straight rod' or 'rule'. Originally used in ecclesiastical contexts to refer to a decree or the books of the Bible officially accepted as holy Scripture, the term later expanded to represent general laws, standards, or an author's accepted body of works.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.