principle
7 synonyms for principle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A fundamental rule, belief, or truth that guides behaviour or reasoning.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use principle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
guiding principle
in principle
a matter of principle
basic principles
Etymology
From Latin prīncipium, "beginning, foundation," from prīnceps ("first, chief").
Full origin of principle →Frequently asked questions
What does “principle” mean?
The word “principle” means a fundamental rule, belief, or truth that guides behaviour or reasoning. In plain terms, a basic rule or belief that something is founded on, or that guides how a person acts.
How do you pronounce “principle”?
“Principle” is pronounced PRIHN-sih-puhl (/ˈpɹɪn.sɪ.pəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “principle” in a sentence?
Here is “principle” used in a sentence: “Honesty is one of her core principles.”
What part of speech is “principle”?
“Principle” is a noun.
Where does the word “principle” come from?
The word “principle” comes from Latin. From Latin prīncipium, "beginning, foundation," from prīnceps ("first, chief").
Is “principle” a common word?
“Principle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between principle and principal?
Principle is a noun meaning a fundamental rule, belief, or truth ("a matter of principle"). Principal is a different word that usually means main or most important, or refers to a school's head or a sum of money. The word meaning a guiding rule is always "principle."
What is the difference between "in principle" and "in practice"?
"In principle" means in theory or as a general rule, describing how something should ideally work. "In practice" describes what actually happens in reality, which may differ from the principle.
Is principle countable?
Yes, principle is a countable noun. You can have one principle or many principles, as in "the basic principles of physics" or "she stuck to her principles."
