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Canonical: meaning, definitions and examples

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canonical

 

[ kəˈnanɪk(ə)l ]

Noun / Adjective
Context #1 | Noun

mathematics

In mathematics, canonical refers to a standard or unique representation of an object. It is often used to denote the simplest or most standard form of an object.

Synonyms

normal, standard, typical

Examples of usage

  • The canonical form of a quadratic equation is ax^2 + bx + c.
  • In linear algebra, the canonical basis vectors are the unit vectors along the coordinate axes.
Context #2 | Adjective

computing

In computing, canonical is used to describe a standardized or official version of something, especially in relation to file paths, protocols, or data formats.

Synonyms

accepted, official, standardized

Examples of usage

  • The canonical URL for a webpage is the preferred URL that should be used for indexing by search engines.
  • The canonical representation of a file path uses a specific syntax or format for consistency.

Translations

Translations of the word "canonical" in other languages:

🇵🇹 canônico

🇮🇳 प्रामाणिक

🇩🇪 kanonisch

🇮🇩 kanonik

🇺🇦 канонічний

🇵🇱 kanoniczny

🇯🇵 正典

🇫🇷 canonique

🇪🇸 canónico

🇹🇷 kanonik

🇰🇷 정경의

🇸🇦 قانوني

🇨🇿 kanonický

🇸🇰 kanonický

🇨🇳 规范的

🇸🇮 kanoničen

🇮🇸 kanónískur

🇰🇿 канондық

🇬🇪 კანონიკური

🇦🇿 kanonik

🇲🇽 canónico

Etymology

The word 'canonical' originates from the Greek term 'kanon,' which means 'rule' or 'measuring rod.' It entered the English language in the 15th century, primarily through ecclesiastical contexts, referring to the authorized or standard version of religious texts. Over time, the term expanded to encompass a broader sense of standardization and official representation in various fields, including mathematics, computing, and literature.

See also: canon.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,239, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.