principle

prin·ci·ple

Use principle in a sentence

noun

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.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"principle." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Principle>.

APA Style

principle. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Principle

principle

the ultimate source, origin, or cause of something
a natural or original tendency, faculty, or endowment
a fundamental truth, law, doctrine, or motivating force, upon which others are based: moral principles
1. a rule of conduct, esp. of right conduct
2. such rules collectively
3. adherence to them; integrity; uprightness: a man of principle
an essential element, constituent, or quality, esp. one that produces a specific effect: the active principle of a medicine
1. the scientific law that explains a natural action: the principle of cell division
2. the method of a thing's operation: the principle of a gasoline engine is internal combustion

Origin of principle

ME, altered from Middle French principe from Classical Latin principium: see principium

principle Idioms

in principle

theoretically or in essence

on principle

because of or according to a principle

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"principle." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Principle>.

APA Style

principle. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Principle

principle

noun

A basic truth, law, or assumption: the principles of democracy.
a. A rule or standard, especially of good behavior: a man of principle.
b. The collectivity of moral or ethical standards or judgments: a decision based on principle rather than expediency.
A fixed or predetermined policy or mode of action.
A basic or essential quality or element determining intrinsic nature or characteristic behavior: the principle of self-preservation.
A rule or law concerning the functioning of natural phenomena or mechanical processes: the principle of jet propulsion.
Chemistry One of the elements that compose a substance, especially one that gives some special quality or effect.
A basic source. See Usage Note at principal.

Origin of principle

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

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"principle." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Principle>.

APA Style

principle. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Principle

Noun

(plural principles)

A fundamental assumption.
We need some sort of principles to reason from.
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.
(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.
(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
A fundamental essence, particularly one producing a given quality.
Many believe that life is the result of some vital principle.
A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.
An original faculty or endowment.

Usage notes

Principle is always a noun ("moral rule"), but it is often confused with principal, which can be an adjective ("most important") or a noun ("school principal"). Consult both definitions if in doubt.

Incorrect usage:

He is the principle musician in the band
She worked ten years as school principle

A mnemonic to avoid this confusion is "The principal alphabetic principle places A before E".

Verb

(third-person singular simple present principles, present participle principling, simple past and past participle principled)

To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet or rule of conduct.

Origin

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

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"principle." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Principle>.

APA Style

principle. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Principle

Synonyms

SentencesSentence examples

principle

principle

principle

Sentence Examples

Related

WORDS NEAR principle IN THE DICTIONARY

principle

principle

principle

Sentence Examples

Related

WORDS NEAR principle IN THE DICTIONARY

Join YourDictionary today