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The definition of a canon is a principle, law or standard by which people are judged or a member of the clergy living according to these principles or laws.

(noun)

An example of a canon is a moral principle that a group believes is correct or proper.
An example of a canon is a member of the Roman Catholic clergy.

See canon in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a law or body of laws of a church
Rare any law or decree
1. an established or basic rule or principle: the canons of good taste
2. a standard to judge by; criterion
3. a body of rules, principles, criteria, etc.
1. the books of the Bible officially accepted by a church or religious body as divinely inspired
2. the works ascribed to an author that are accepted as genuine
3. the complete works, as of an author
4. those works, authors, etc. accepted as major or essential: the Victorian canon
1. Eccles. the fundamental and essentially unvarying part of the Mass, between the Preface and Communion, that centers on consecration of the bread and wine
2. a list of recognized saints as in the Roman Catholic Church
Music
1. a contrapuntal device in which a melody introduced in one voice is restated in one or more other voices that overlap the first and successive voices in continuous and strict imitation
2. a composition so constructed

Origin: ME < OE & OFr < L, measuring line, rule (hence, in ML(Ec), sacred writings admitted to the catalog according to the rule) < Gr kanōn, rule, rod < kanna: see cane

noun

a member of a clerical group living according to a canon, or rule
a clergyman serving in a cathedral or collegiate church
canon regular

Origin: ME < OE canonic & OFr chanoine < LL(Ec) canonicus, a cleric, one living by the canon: see canon

See canon in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

An ecclesiastical law or code of laws established by a church council.
A secular law, rule, or code of law.
a. An established principle: the canons of polite society.
b. A basis for judgment; a standard or criterion.
The books of the Bible officially accepted as Holy Scripture.
a. A group of literary works that are generally accepted as representing a field: “the durable canon of American short fiction” (William Styron).
b. The works of a writer that have been accepted as authentic: the entire Shakespeare canon.
Canon The part of the Mass beginning after the Preface and Sanctus and ending just before the Lord's Prayer.
The calendar of saints accepted by the Roman Catholic Church.
Music A composition or passage in which a melody is imitated by one or more voices at fixed intervals of pitch and time.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English canoun

Origin: , from Old English canon

Origin: and from Old French

Origin: , both from Latin canōn, rule

Origin: , from Greek kanōn, measuring rod, rule

noun

A member of a chapter of priests serving in a cathedral or collegiate church.
A member of certain religious communities living under a common rule and bound by vows.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English canoun

Origin: , from Norman French canun

Origin: , from Late Latin canōnicus, one living under a rule

Origin: , from Latin canōn, rule; see Canon ¹

noun

Variant of canyon.

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