What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Canon vs Headcanon - What's the difference?

canon | headcanon |

As nouns the difference between headcanon and canon

is that headcanon is elements and interpretations of a fictional universe accepted by an individual fan, but not found within or supported by the official canon while canon is a generally accepted principle; a rule.

canon

English

(wikipedia canon)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A generally accepted principle; a rule.
    • The trial must proceed according to the canons of law.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon 'gainst self-slaughter.
  • (literary) A group of literary works that are generally accepted as representing a field.
    • (turn into real quote) "the durable canon of American short fiction" — William Styron
  • The works of a writer that have been accepted as authentic.
    • the entire Shakespeare canon
  • A eucharistic prayer, particularly the Roman Canon.
  • A religious law or body of law decreed by the church.
    • We must proceed according to canon law.
  • A catalogue of saints acknowledged and canonized in the Roman Catholic Church.
  • In monasteries, a book containing the rules of a religious order.
  • A member of a cathedral chapter; one who possesses a prebend in a cathedral or collegiate church.
  • A piece of music in which the same melody is played by different voices, but beginning at different times; a round.
    • Pachelbel’s ''Canon'' has become very popular.
  • (fandom) Those sources, especially including literary works, which are generally considered authoritative regarding a given fictional universe.
    • A spin-off book series revealed the aliens to be originally from Earth, but it's not canon .
  • (cookery) A rolled and filleted loin of meat.
    • a canon of beef or lamb
  • (printing) The largest size of type with a specific name, formerly used for printing the canons of the church.
  • (senseid)The part of a bell by which it is suspended; the ear or shank of a bell.
    • (Knight)
  • (billiards) A carom.

    • Derived terms

    * canon law * canonic * canonicity * canonical * canonise, canonize * canonisation, canonization * canonist * deuterocanonical * noncanonical

    Anagrams

    * ----

    headcanon

    English

    Noun

    (headcanons)
  • (fandom slang) Elements and interpretations of a fictional universe accepted by an individual fan, but not found within or supported by the official canon.
  • * 2012 , Maggie K, " Let's talk about socks: Gender performativity in Terry Pratchett's Monstrous Regiment", Queer Vertigo 2012 (University of Technology, Sydney), unknown date, page 17:
    • Technically, the social context of Borogravia is such that the actual external difference between a trans man and a woman disguised as a man is practically indiscernible – the technology level means they’re indistinguishable by the bodily modification standard (although now that I think about it, there's no reason Igors couldn't perform sex changes, and that's going in my headcanon now), and there does not appear to be a space in the language for self-identification.
  • * 2012 , Bea Huff, " Love the character, not the actor", Daily Nebraskan , Volume 111, Issue 151, 11 June 2012, page 3:
    • That wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that they just fill in the missing information with whatever headcanon (one's personal belief of what is true to the universe) they want instead of actually trying to find out more about the character.
  • * 2013 , Kristal Frenero, " Fifty shades of fan crazy", The Talon Newsmagazine (John A. Ferguson Senior High), Volume 10, Issue 2, February 2013, page 8:
    • Don't forget if they can write pages and pages and pages of “headcanon ” information for an already developed character, probably changing his or her already set personality or even expanding upon it.
  • *

    • See also

    * fanon