Definition of "canon"

canon¹

/ˈkæn.ən/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural canons
1. A generally accepted principle; a rule.
  Quotations
  Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon 'gainst self-slaughter.
  c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii]
  1. a formally codified set of criteria deemed mandatory for a particular artistic style of figurative art.
    Quotations
    Despite the many advances made by modern scholars towards a clearer comprehension of the theoretical basis of the Canon of Polykleitos, the results of these studies show an absence of any general agreement upon the practical application of that canon in works of art.
    1975, Richard Tobin, “The Canon of Polykleitos”, in American Journal of Archaeology‎, volume 79, number 4, retrieved 2 October 2020, pages 307–321
2. A group of literary works that are generally accepted as representing a field.
  Quotations
  the durable canon of American short fiction
  2015, William Styron, “Irwin Shaw”, in My Generation: Collected Nonfiction, page 456
3. The works of a writer that have been accepted as authentic.
4. A eucharistic prayer, particularly the Roman Canon.
5. A religious law or body of law decreed by the church.
6. A catalogue of saints acknowledged and canonized in the Roman Catholic Church.
7. In monasteries, a book containing the rules of a religious order.
8. A piece of music in which the same melody is played by different voices, but beginning at different times; a round.
9. (Roman law) A rent or stipend payable at some regular time, generally annual, e.g., canon frumentarius
  Quotations
  The lessees of public lands had to pay a perpetual rent or "canon" at some periodical time.
  1919 January, Charles P. Sherman, “A Brief History of Imperial Roman Canon Law”, in California Law Review, volume 7, number 2, Berkeley, California: University of California, pages 96–97
10. (fandom slang, uncountable) Those sources, especially including literary works, which are considered part of the main continuity regarding a given fictional universe.
  Quotations
  Meanwhile, having learned the whereabouts of the Death Star's plans, the rebels send their best platypus agent to obtain them, in hopes of finding a weakness. And none of this is canon, so just relax.
  2014, Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars
11. (cooking) A rolled and filleted loin of meat; also called a cannon.
12. (printing, dated, uncountable) A large size of type formerly used for printing the church canons, standardized as 48-point.
13. The part of a bell by which it is suspended; the ear or shank of a bell.

canon²

adjective
comparative more canon, superlative most canon
1. (fandom slang) Clipping of canonical.

canon³

noun
plural canons
1. A clergy member serving a cathedral or collegiate church.
2. A canon regular, a member of any of several Roman Catholic religious orders.

canon⁴

noun
plural canons
1. Alternative spelling of qanun

canon⁵

noun
plural canons
1. (obsolete, now a misspelling) Alternative spelling of cannon (“weapon”)
2. Alternative spelling of cannon (“a carom in billiards”)