principle

Bridgezipf 4.34

Pronunciation

/ˈprɪnsɪpəl/(PRIN-si-pul)

Part of speech

nounneutral

Chinese

原则；原理（指导行为的基本规则或信念；或自然界的规律）

Definition

A fundamental rule or belief governing behaviour; a general law explaining how something works.

Word family

  • principled/ˈprɪnsɪpəld/(adj)有原则的；基于原则的
  • unprincipled/ʌnˈprɪnsɪpəld/(adj)不讲原则的

Collocations

  • guiding principle
  • in principle
  • on principle
  • fundamental principle
  • apply the principle
  • principle-based approach
  • agree in principle

Examples

  1. 1.The design is based on the principle that the user should never have to read instructions to understand the interface.
  2. 2.She agreed in principle but wanted to review the specific terms before committing.

Synonyms

  • rule/ruːl/— a regulation or guideline
  • value/ˈvæljuː/— a principle regarded as important
  • belief/bɪˈliːf/— a firmly held conviction

Etymology

from Latin "principium" = beginning, origin, from "princeps" (first, chief)