in principle

prin·ci·ple

 (prĭn′sə-pəl)

n.

1. A basic truth, law, or assumption: the principles of democracy.

2.

a. A rule or standard, especially of good behavior: a man of principle.

b. The collectivity of moral or ethical standards or judgments: a decision based on principle rather than expediency.

3. A fixed or predetermined policy or mode of action.

4. A basic or essential quality or element determining intrinsic nature or characteristic behavior: the principle of self-preservation.

5. A rule or law concerning the functioning of natural phenomena or mechanical processes: the principle of jet propulsion.

6. Chemistry One of the elements that compose a substance, especially one that gives some special quality or effect.

7. A basic source. See Usage Note at principal.

Idioms:

in principle

With regard to the basics: an idea that is acceptable in principle.

on principle

According to or because of principle.

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[Middle English, alteration of Old French principe, from Latin prīncipium, from prīnceps, prīncip-, leader, emperor; see per in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Adv.

1.

in principle - with regard to fundamentals although not concerning details; "in principle, we agree" in essence, in theory

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

مِن حَيْثُ المَبْدأ

v podstatě

i princippet

grundsätzlichim Prinzip

κατ' αρχήν

en principioen teoría

en principe

elvben

í grundvallaratriîum

in via di principioprincipio

i prinsippet

geneldeilke olarak

原则上

principle

(ˈprinsəpəl) noun

1. a general truth, rule or law. the principle of gravity. beginsel قاعِدَه първопричина princípio princip, zákon das Gesetz princip; læresætning αρχή, νόμοςprincipio printsiip, seadus اصل periaate principeעיקרון सिद्धान्त (alap)elv prinsip grundvallaratriði; lögmál principio 原理 원칙 dėsnis, principas princips; likums prinsip beginselprinsipp, grunnsetning, lovprawo اصل princípio principiu закон princíp, zákon načelo princip princip, grundsats, lag กฎ kanun 原則 правило; закон اصول، قانون nguyên lý 原则

2. the theory by which a machine etc works. the principle of the jet engine. beginsel مَبْدأ правило princípio princip die Grundregel princip αρχή λειτουργίας principio tegevuspõhimõte قاعده کلی toimintaperiaate principeעיקרון मूलतत्व, आधारभूत कारण elv prinsip lögmál principio 原理 원리 principas (uzbūves, darbības) princips prinsip principeprinsipp zasada działania په كلي توګه princípio principiu принцип princíp osnova princip princip ทฤษฎี prensip 原理 принцип بنيادي اصول nguyên tắc cấu tạo 原理

ˈprinciples noun plural

one's own personal rules or standards of behaviour. It is against my principles to borrow money. beginsels مَبادئ، مُعْتَقَدات принципи princípios zásady das Prinzip princip (ηθικές) αρχές principios põhimõtted اعتقادات periaatteet principes עֵקרוֹנוֹת प्राचार्य elvek prinsip lífsreglur, prinsipp principi 主義 신조 principai, įsitikinimai principi; uzskati pendirian principes leveregler, prinsipper zasady اعتقادونه princípios principii принципы, нормы zásady načela načelo principer ข้อปฏิบัติ ilke, prensip 信念，行為準則 принципи طور و طريقہ nguyên tắc đạo đức 信念，行为准则

in principle

in general, as opposed to in detail. in beginsel مِن حَيْثُ المَبْدأ по принцип em princípio v podstatě im Prinzip i princippet κατά κανόνα, γενικάen principio põhimõtteliselt اصولاً periaatteessa en principeעקרונית मुख्य विचार के संबंध में általában, elvben pada umumnya í grundvallaratriðum in linea di principio, in teoria 原則として 원칙적으로는 iš esmės principā; kopumā pd prinsipnya in beginseli prinsippet, prinsipielt ogólnie rzecz biorąc اصولاً em princípio în principiu в принципе v podstate v načelu u načelu i princip โดยทั่วไป genelde, ilke olarak 原則上 в принципі عموماً nói chung 原则上

on principle

because of one's principles. I never borrow money, on principle. uit beginsel مَبدَئيا، بِسَبَب المَبدأ заради принципите си por princípio ze zásady aus Prinzip af princip; af principielle grunde για λόγους αρχής por principio põhimõtteliselt بخاطر اصول اخلاقی periaatteesta par principe מִתוֹך עִקָרוֹן सिद्धान्तत: elvből karena prinsip samkvæmt grundvallarreglu per principio 主義として 원칙에 따라 iš principo principa pēc krn pendirian principieelav prinsipp z zasady د اخلاقى اصولو په خاطر por princípio din principiu из принципа zo zásady načelno principijelno av princip โดยหลักปฏิบัติของบุคคล ilke olarak 根據原則 з принципу اصول طور پر vì những nguyên tắc 根据原则

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high moral principles (not principals).

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