Meaning & use
canon
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A body of works or rules officially accepted as authentic, authoritative, or standard, such as religious law or a recognized collection of literature.
See it in a sentence
Shakespeare's plays are central to the Western literary canon.
The church's canon law governs many aspects of religious practice.
A note on using this word
In fiction fandoms, 'canon' has taken on a specialized meaning distinct from its older literary and religious senses.
Another way to use it
2. noun
In fiction fandoms, the events, characters, and details officially recognized as part of a story's continuity.
Fans debated whether the spin-off novel was considered canon.
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