- 1(formal) a generally accepted rule, standard, or principle by which something is judged the canons of good taste “trickle-down” economics, the central canon of Reaganism
- 2a list of the books or other works that are generally accepted as the genuine work of a particular writer or as being important the Shakespeare canon “The House of Mirth” is a central book in the canon of American literature.
- 3a piece of music in which singers or instruments take turns repeating the melody (= tune) a canon for tenor and bass
- 4a Christian priest with special duties in a cathedral
Check pronunciation: canon