first principle

first principle

n (usually plural)

1. (Philosophy / Logic) one of the fundamental assumptions on which a particular theory or procedure is thought to be based

2. (Philosophy / Logic) an axiom of a mathematical or scientific theory

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

first principle - the elementary stages of any subject (usually plural); "he mastered only the rudiments of geometry" ABC, ABC's, ABCs, first rudiment, rudiment, alphabet basic principle, fundamental principle, fundamentals, basics, bedrock - principles from which other truths can be derived; "first you must learn the fundamentals"; "let's get down to basics" plural, plural form - the form of a word that is used to denote more than one