noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

canon

Canon (noun) means a collection of works or rules officially accepted as genuine or authoritative, such as the accepted body of a writer's work or a set of religious texts. Example: “Shakespeare's plays form part of the Western literary canon.”

noun

A collection of works or rules officially accepted as genuine or authoritative, such as the accepted body of a writer's work or a set of religious texts.

"Shakespeare's plays form part of the Western literary canon."

"Fans debated whether the new film was part of the official movie canon."

A clergyman who serves on the staff of a cathedral.

"The canon led the morning service in the absence of the dean."

How to Use Canon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn officially accepted body of work or rules, or a type of cathedral clergyman.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "cannon" (the weapon) — they sound identical but mean completely different things.

Easily confused with

cannon →

Common pairings

literary canon canon law part of the canon

Word Forms

canons plural, Canons plural

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Fill the Gap

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Shakespeare's plays form part of the Western literary _____.

Etymology

From Latin canonicus, ultimately from Greek kanon, "rule" or "standard."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for canon

anon Lebanon

See all rhymes for canon →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “canon” mean?

The word “canon” means a collection of works or rules officially accepted as genuine or authoritative, such as the accepted body of a writer's work or a set of religious texts. In plain terms, an officially accepted body of work or rules, or a type of cathedral clergyman.

How do you use “canon” in a sentence?

Here is “canon” used in a sentence: “Shakespeare's plays form part of the Western literary canon.”

What part of speech is “canon”?

“Canon” is a noun.

Where does the word “canon” come from?

The word “canon” comes from Latin. From Latin canonicus, ultimately from Greek kanon, "rule" or "standard.".

Is “canon” a common word?

“Canon” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “canon” have?

“Canon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a collection of works or rules officially accepted as genuine or authoritative, such as the accepted body of a writer's work or a set of religious texts.