English Meaning & Definitions
A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.
- “She refused to lie because it went against her moral principles.”
- “The entire legal system is built on the principle of the presumption of innocence.”
A general scientific law or rule that explains how something works or is produced.
- “The engine operates on the principle of thermal expansion.”
- “He studied the basic principles of physics in high school.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “principle”.
Derived from the Latin 'principium', meaning 'beginning, source, or origin', from 'princeps' (first, chief), combining 'primus' (first) and 'capere' (to take). Over time, the meaning shifted from a chronological beginning to a fundamental truth, source, or standard of behavior.
Remember that a princi-PLE is a ru-LE you live by (both end in LE).
Frequently Asked Questions About “principle”
1. What is the meaning of “principle” in English?
In English, principle (noun) is defined as: “A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.”.
2. How do you use “principle” in a sentence?
“She refused to lie because it went against her moral principles.”
3. What are English synonyms of “principle”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “principle”?
Derived from the Latin 'principium', meaning 'beginning, source, or origin', from 'princeps' (first, chief), combining 'primus' (first) and 'capere' (to take). Over time, the meaning shifted from a chronological beginning to a fundamental truth, source, or standard of behavior.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.