In crossword lore, a canonical clue is a certain clue or set of similar clues which has become "standard" through frequent republication, usually being the most concise or immediately apparent for a particular word.
Examples[]
- Prison riot (4), a double definition for the word STIR, has been printed so many times in major daily cryptics that other clues, barring the occasional minor variation, are extremely seldom seen. This clue is also a prime example of a crossword cliché.