Definition
Canon is the body of story material officially accepted as part of a fictional universe, as opposed to fanworks, alternate versions, or personal headcanon.
Example
In a long-running series, only events published by the rights holder count as canon unless the author declares otherwise.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Treating fanfiction or adaptation changes as canon without checking source hierarchy.
- Debating canon purity while ignoring whether the story works on its own terms.