| Noun | 1. | legal principle - (law) a principle underlying the formulation of jurisprudence principle - a rule or standard especially of good behavior; "a man of principle"; "he will not violate his principles" jus sanguinis - the principle that a person's nationality at birth is the same as that of his natural parents jus soli - the principle that a person's nationality at birth is determined by the place of birth preemption, pre-emption - the judicial principle asserting the supremacy of federal over state legislation on the same subject relation back, relation - (law) the principle that an act done at a later time is deemed by law to have occurred at an earlier time; "his attorney argued for the relation back of the amended complaint to the time the initial complaint was filed" law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" |