Canon (noun)

1. An official list of books, especially those considered to be sacred, that are accepted as genuine.
2. A set of rules, principles, or standards that are considered authoritative and binding.
3. A general law, principle, or criterion that is used to judge the quality or validity of something.
4. A body of works in a particular field or genre that are considered to be the most important or authoritative.

Origin:

Derived from the greek word "kanon" meaning "a measuring rod" or "a standard".

Examples:

1. The canon of the New Testament consists of 27 books.
2. The canon of classical literature includes works by Homer, Virgil, and Dante.
3. The canon of photography includes works by Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, and Henri Cartier-Bresson.
4. The canon of jazz includes works by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Charlie Parker.
5. The canon of science fiction includes works by Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and Isaac Asimov.