PRINCIPLE

n. 1 truth, given, precept, tenet, fundamental, grounds, law, rule, dictum, canon, doctrine, teaching, dogma, proposition, (basic) assumption, postulate, axiom, maxim, truism, guide, standard, criterion, model The perpetual-motion machine violates a basic principle of physics 2 Often, principles. philosophy, code, attitude, (point of) view, viewpoint, sentiment, belief, credo, creed, idea, notion, ethic, sense of right and wrong He cynically conducts his life on the principle, 'Do unto others before they do unto you' I am not sure I can condone his principles. 3 (sense of) honour, uprightness, honesty, morality, morals, probity, integrity, conscience If you don't think him a man of principle, don't do business with him 4 in principle. on principle, in theory, theoretically, basically, fundamentally, at bottom, in essence, essentially, ideally I like your plan in principle, but in practice it cannot be accomplished that way