1. in a way that follows or conforms to established rules, standards, or accepted forms
2. in a way that is recognized as part of an official or authoritative list or collection
Usage: often used in religious, literary, or academic contexts
3. in mathematics and logic, in a way that is natural, standard, or uniquely determined by the structure of the objects involved
Usage: technical; used in mathematics and computer science

Examples

• The text is canonically considered one of the greatest works of English literature.
• These four gospels are canonically recognized by most Christian denominations.
• The software processes data canonically to ensure consistency across all systems.
• She canonically defined the term in her influential research paper.
• The ceremony was performed canonically according to church law.
• In mathematics, the transformation is canonically defined by the underlying structure.