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Glite Dictionary
headcanon

headcanon

1 9.9
A personal idea about a story or character that is not official
  • noun
  • /ˈhɛdˌkænən/
  • Jargon
translation icon : headcanon
  • Many fans share their own headcanons about what happened before the story begins, enhancing their experience of the narrative.

Examples

  • I've got some headcanons about the MFW crew that I'll leave after the cut, since you guys seemed to like the fanfiction!

    Blog text (21)

  • I have a headcanon that the main character has a hidden backstory that explains their actions throughout the series.

  • In my headcanon, the villain was actually the hero's long-lost sibling, which adds a layer of complexity to the plot.

How Official

canon
  • Specialized
12 7.9
headcanon
  • Jargon
1 9.9
fanon
  • Jargon
1 9.6

Surface Forms

headcanon singular
headcanons plural

Morphology

headcanon = head + canon (semi-transparent) = head + canon

The compound literally combines 'head' (in one's mind) + 'canon' (accepted storyline), but the fandom-specific sense of 'canon' and the jargon status make the meaning not fully obvious to average learners.

Etymology

Headcanon comes from the words head ('your mind') and canon ('official story'). A headcanon is a personal idea about a character or plot that a fan treats as true even though the official story does not say it.