principle

[ prin-suh-puhl ]

/ ˈprɪn sə pəl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR principle ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct: a person of good moral principles.

a fundamental, primary, or general law or truth from which others are derived: the principles of modern physics.

a fundamental doctrine or tenet; a distinctive ruling opinion: the principles of the Stoics.

principles, a personal or specific basis of conduct or management: to adhere to one's principles; a kindergarten run on modern principles.

guiding sense of the requirements and obligations of right conduct: a person of principle.

an adopted rule or method for application in action: a working principle for general use.

a rule or law exemplified in natural phenomena, the construction or operation of a machine, the working of a system, or the like: the principle of capillary attraction.

the method of formation, operation, or procedure exhibited in a given case: a community organized on the patriarchal principle.

a determining characteristic of something; essential quality.

an originating or actuating agency or force: growth is the principle of life.

an actuating agency in the mind or character, as an instinct, faculty, or natural tendency: the principles of human behavior.

Chemistry. a constituent of a substance, especially one giving to it some distinctive quality or effect.

Obsolete. beginning or commencement.

Idioms for principle

in principle, in essence or substance; fundamentally: to accept a plan in principle.

on principle,

according to personal rules for right conduct; as a matter of moral principle: He refused on principle to agree to the terms of the treaty.
according to a fixed rule, method, or practice: He drank hot milk every night on principle.

Origin of principle

1350–1400; Middle English, alteration of Middle French principe or Latin prīncipium, on the analogy of manciple. See principium

SYNONYMS FOR principle

2 theorem, axiom, postulate, proposition.

5 integrity, probity, rectitude, honor.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR principle ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for principle

1–3. Principle, canon, rule imply something established as a standard or test, for measuring, regulating, or guiding conduct or practice. A principle is a general and fundamental truth that may be used in deciding conduct or choice: to adhere to principle. Canon, originally referring to an edict of the Church (a meaning that it still retains), is used of any principle, law, or critical standard that is officially approved, particularly in aesthetics and scholarship: canons of literary criticism. A rule, usually something adopted or enacted, is often the specific application of a principle: the golden rule.

usage note for principle

See principal.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH principle

principal principle (see usage note at principal) (see synonym study at the current entry)

Words nearby principle

principalities, principality, principally, principate, principium, principle, principle of complementarity, principle of economy, principle of indifference, principle of least action, principle of mathematical induction

Example sentences from the Web for principle

But the qualities Mario Cuomo brought to public life—compassion, integrity, commitment to principle—remain in short supply today.

President Cuomo Would’ve Been a Lion |Jonathan Alter |January 2, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Nixon said defending the two islands was “a matter of principle.”

The World’s Toughest Political Quiz |Jeff Greenfield |December 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
If the noble experiment of American democracy is to mean anything, it is fidelity to the principle of freedom.

The Sony Hack and America’s Craven Capitulation To Terror |David Keyes |December 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Let the record show that espousing principles is common; acting on principle is rare.

Justice Ginsburg Shouldn’t Quit Just Yet |Kevin Bleyer |December 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The principle that outsiders should be welcomed and provided for was a cross-cultural theme in ancient cultures.

Pope Bids Refugees to EU ‘Bienvenido’; Europe Says ‘Non’ |Candida Moss |November 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The Maoris themselves have observed this fact and applied the principle to their own obvious fate.

Influences of Geographic Environment |Ellen Churchill Semple
The church of Rome has acted upon this principle, and even Protestants (to the shame of Protestantism) have followed her example.

Notes on the Book of Deuteronomy, Volume II |Charles Henry Mackintosh
The Central Authority in 1907 applies this principle unreservedly to one class only, the wayfarers or vagrants.

English Poor Law Policy |Sidney Webb
None of the men like him—except Freddy Lancaster, of course; he likes everybody, on principle; he doesn't count.

The Landlord at Lion's Head, Complete |William Dean Howells
It is the principle of individualism, competition, each one for himself and against all the rest.

Socialism |John Stuart Mill

British Dictionary definitions for principle (1 of 2)

principle

/ (ˈprɪnsɪpəl) /

noun

a standard or rule of personal conduct a man of principle

(often plural) a set of such moral rules he'd stoop to anything; he has no principles

adherence to such a moral code; morality it's not the money but the principle of the thing; torn between principle and expediency

a fundamental or general truth or law first principles

the essence of something the male principle

a source or fundamental cause; origin principle of life

a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the behaviour of a system the principle of the conservation of mass

an underlying or guiding theory or belief the hereditary principle; socialist principles

chem a constituent of a substance that gives the substance its characteristics and behaviour bitter principle

in principle in theory or essence

on principle because of or in demonstration of a principle

Word Origin for principle

C14: from Latin principium beginning, basic tenet

usage for principle

Principle and principal are often confused: the principal (not principle) reason for his departure; the plan was approved in principle (not in principal)

British Dictionary definitions for principle (2 of 2)

Principle

/ (ˈprɪnsɪpəl) /

noun

Christian Science another word for God

Medical definitions for principle

principle

[ prĭn′sə-pəl ]

n.

A basic truth, law, or assumption.

A rule or law concerning the functioning of natural phenomena or mechanical processes.

One of the elements composing a chemical compound, especially one that gives some special quality or effect.

The essential ingredient in a drug.

Idioms and Phrases with principle

principle

see in principle; on principle.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

principle

noun

Idioms for principle

Origin of principle

SYNONYMS FOR principle

synonym study for principle

usage note for principle

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH principle

Words nearby principle

Example sentences from the Web for principle

British Dictionary definitions for principle (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for principle

usage for principle

British Dictionary definitions for principle (2 of 2)

noun

Medical definitions for principle

n.

Idioms and Phrases with principle

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

principle

noun

Idioms for principle

Origin of principle

SYNONYMS FOR principle

synonym study for principle

usage note for principle

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH principle

Words nearby principle

Words related to principle

Example sentences from the Web for principle

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for principle (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for principle

usage for principle

British Dictionary definitions for principle (2 of 2)

noun

Medical definitions for principle

n.

Idioms and Phrases with principle

British Dictionary definitions for principle (1 of 2)