principle
PRIHN-sih-puhl
Principle (noun) means a fundamental rule, belief, or truth that guides behaviour or reasoning. Example: “Honesty is one of her core principles.”
noun
1
A fundamental rule, belief, or truth that guides behaviour or reasoning.
"Honesty is one of her core principles."
"The machine works on the principle of magnetic repulsion."
"Teachers should follow the principle that every child deserves a fair chance."
How to use principle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA basic rule or belief that something is founded on, or that guides how a person acts.
Common mistake
Often confused with principal (main; or a school head/sum of money). Principle is always a noun meaning a rule or belief.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
guiding principle
in principle
a matter of principle
basic principles
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- principles
- Past tense
- principled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Honesty is one of her core _____.
Etymology
From Latin prīncipium, "beginning, foundation," from prīnceps ("first, chief").
Related words
Rhymes for principle
See all rhymes for 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."
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