Principle meaning

prĭnsə-pəl
principles
See word origin
Frequency:
A basic truth, law, or assumption.

The principles of democracy.

noun
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The definition of a principle is a basic truth or the source or origin of something or someone.

An example of principle is a list of values set by a group of people.

noun
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A natural or original tendency, faculty, or endowment.
noun
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A rule or law concerning the functioning of natural phenomena or mechanical processes.

The principle of jet propulsion.

noun
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A basic source.
noun
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One of the elements that compose a substance, especially one that gives some special quality or effect.
noun
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A fundamental truth, law, doctrine, or motivating force, upon which others are based.

Moral principles.

noun
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The ultimate source, origin, or cause of something.
noun
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A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.
noun
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A fixed or predetermined policy or mode of action.
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(usually in the plural) Moral rule or aspect.

I don't doubt your principles; you are clearly a person of principle. It's the principle of the thing; I won't do business with someone I can't trust.

noun
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A fundamental essence, particularly one producing a given quality.

Many believe that life is the result of some vital principle.

noun
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A basic or essential quality or element determining intrinsic nature or characteristic behavior.

The principle of self-preservation.

noun
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An essential element, constituent, or quality, esp. one that produces a specific effect.

The active principle of a medicine.

noun
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(physics) A rule or law of nature, or the basic idea on how the laws of nature are applied.

Bernoulli's principle; The Pauli Exclusion Principle prevents two fermions from occupying the same state. The principle of the internal combustion engine.

noun
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To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet or rule of conduct.
verb
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A rule used to choose among solutions to a problem.

The principle of least privilege holds that a process should only receive the permissions it needs.

noun
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An original faculty or endowment.
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A fundamental assumption.

We need some sort of principles to reason from.

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in principle
  • With regard to the basics:.
    An idea that is acceptable in principle.
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on principle
  • According to or because of principle.
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in principle
  • Theoretically or in essence.
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on principle
  • Because of or according to a principle.
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Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Origin of principle

  • Middle English alteration of Old French principe from Latin prīncipium from prīnceps prīncip- leader, emperor per1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old French principe, from Latin principium (“beginning, foundation"), from princeps (“first"); see prince.

    From Wiktionary

Principle Sentence Examples

  • The basic principle was that those who worked hard would be rewarded.

  • The principle of energy makes it clear that the light emitted laterally is not a new creation, but only diverted from the main stream.

  • It was a basic fundamental principle of the way of life.

  • The principle of equality of nations that inhabit our country is strictly adhered by.

  • By one count, rice is the principle source of calories for about half the planet.

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Words near principle in the Dictionary