prin ‧ ci ‧ ple S2 W1 AC /ˈprɪnsəp ə l, ˈprɪnsɪp ə l/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: French ; Origin: principe , from Latin principium 'beginning' , from princeps ; ⇨ ↑ prince ]
1 . MORAL RULE [uncountable and countable] a moral rule or belief about what is right and wrong, that influences how you behave:
Schools try to teach children a set of principles.
He’s got no principles at all!
It’s against my principles to accept gifts from clients.
2 . IDEA BEHIND SOMETHING [countable] the basic idea that a plan or system is based on:
The general principle is that education should be available to all children up to the age of 16.
basic/fundamental/guiding principle
the basic principles of business management
principle of
the principles of French law
principle that
Reflexology is based on the principle that specific areas on the feet correspond to different parts of the body.
on a principle
The project worked on the principle that each person’s experience was equally valuable.
principle behind
the principles behind government policies
He called for a return to first principles (=the most important ideas) of road safety for children.
Similar principles apply in the case of older children (=the principles are the same as others that have been mentioned) .
3 . in principle
a) if something is possible in principle, there is no good reason why it should not happen, but it has not actually happened yet SYN theoretically :
In principle, the new software should make the accounting system a lot simpler.
b) if you agree to something in principle, you agree about a general plan or idea but have not yet considered the details:
They have accepted the idea in principle.
The government has agreed in principle to a referendum.
4 . RULES OF A PROCESS [countable] a rule which explains the way something such as a machine works, or which explains a natural force in the universe:
Archimedes’ principle
principle of
the basic principles of physics
HINT : ► Do not confuse the noun principle with the noun and adjective principal : a former principal of the college | her principal tasks
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ adjectives
▪ strict principles
Rosa is a woman of strict moral principles.
▪ strong principles (=that someone believes in very strongly)
a man of strong principles
▪ high principles (=strong beliefs about right and wrong)
Dunn's high principles and pleasant manner won him the real affection of his colleagues.
▪ moral principles
Criminal law should be used to protect and reinforce moral principles.
▪ religious/political principles
Doesn’t working on Sunday conflict with your religious principles?
▪ socialist principles
Would he stick to his socialist principles after being elected Prime Minister?
■ verbs
▪ have principles
I may have no money and no power but I have principles.
▪ stick to your principles (=act according to them, even when this is difficult)
Throughout this time, he stuck to his principles and spoke out against injustice.
▪ betray/compromise your principles (=do something that is against your principles)
I knew I could lie to help him, but it would be betraying my principles.
▪ abandon your principles (=stop believing in them or trying to act by them)
It has been said that he abandoned his basic political principles while he was in power.
■ phrases
▪ be against sb’s principles
It’s against my principles to eat meat.
▪ as a matter of principle (=because of moral beliefs about right and wrong)
As a matter of principle one should never yield to terrorism.
▪ a man/woman of principle (=someone with strong moral ideas)
He is the only candidate who has demonstrated that he is a man of principle.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ a general/broad principle
He explained the general principles of the constitution.
▪ an important principle
One important principle is that you should give yourself plenty of reward for your success.
▪ a basic/fundamental principle (=a very important principle to which other ideas are added)
Applicants should show that they understand the basic principles of marketing.
▪ a guiding principle (=a principle that helps you decide what to do)
Fairness is the guiding principle.
▪ first principles (=the most basic ideas that something is based on)
The researchers went back to first principles.
■ verbs
▪ be based on a principle
A good education ought to be based on multicultural principles.
▪ a principle applies
The same principle applies to all kinds of selling.
▪ the principle underlying something
What are the principles underlying this form of treatment?
▪ establish a principle (=make it accepted)
Establish the principle that when your office door is shut you must not be disturbed.
▪ lay down a principle (=describe a principle and make it accepted)
The report lays down general principles for the teaching of English.