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principle

prin·ciple

US/ˈpɹɪn.sɪ.pəl/ common

noun

1.

a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct

  • “their principles of composition characterized all their works”
Synonyms
2.

a rule or standard especially of good behavior

  • “a man of principle”
  • “he will not violate his principles”
3.

a basic truth or law or assumption

  • “the principles of democracy”
4.

a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system

  • “the principle of the conservation of mass”
  • “the principle of jet propulsion”
  • “the right-hand rule for inductive fields”
Synonyms
5.
6.

(law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature)

  • “the rationale for capital punishment”
  • “the principles of internal-combustion engines”
Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English principle, from Old French principe, from Latin prīncipium (“beginning, foundation”), from prīnceps (“first”). By surface analysis, prīmus (“first”) + -ceps (“catcher”); the former ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- (“before”); see also prince.

Phrases

  • acceleration principle
  • agreement in principle
  • Anna Karenina principle
  • anthropic principle
  • Archimedes' principle
  • arm's length principle
  • aufbau principle
  • Babinet's principle

Related words

Word family

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.