Kanonikos

Kanonikos (Greek: κανόνικος) is a Greek adjective meaning canonical, standard, or according to the canon. It derives from κανών (kanón), meaning rule, norm, or canon, with the suffix -ikos to form an adjective. The term signals conformity to an established rule, body of texts, or official regulation.

In religious and scholarly contexts, kanonikos is used to describe texts, laws, or practices recognized as part of a religious canon or normative code. It is commonly found in discussions of canon formation, canonical literature, and the authority of canonical sources within Greek-speaking communities. In broader usage, the word can denote something regarded as normative or official within a given tradition.

Usage and variation: kanonikos appears in transliterations of Greek sources in English-language scholarship. In Greek, related forms such as κανόνικος (masculine), κανόνική (feminine), and κανόνικο (neuter) align with standard adjective morphology. The term is distinct from casual or everyday meanings of “normal” or “regular,” though it shares a common root with those ideas.

Notes: The concept of kanonikos is closely tied to the idea of a canon—an authoritative collection or set of rules. It is primarily used in religious, textual, and scholarly contexts rather than as a general everyday descriptor. The word should not be confused with unrelated uses of “canonical” in modern contexts that might employ different Greek terms.