Betekenis van principle In het Nederlands

• 0 a basic idea or rule that explains or controls how something happens or works:

  • the principles of the criminal justice system

  • The country is run on socialist principles.

  • The machine works according to the principle of electromagnetic conduction.

  • The organization works on the principle that all members have the same rights.

  • In principle I agree with the idea, but in practice it's not always possible.

  • They have approved the changes in principle.

• 1 a moral rule or standard of good behaviour:

  • She doesn't have any principles.

  • He was a man of principle.

  • Anyway, I can't deceive him - it's against all my principles.

  • I never gamble, as a matter of principle (= because I believe it is wrong).

  • She'd never ask to borrow money, on principle.

• 2 a moral rule or standard of good behavior or fair dealing:

  • [ C ] His guiding principle is that everyone should have equal access to high-quality health care.

  • [ C ] He refused to compromise his principles.

  • On principle, I never eat meat.

• 3 a basic truth that explains or controls how something happens or works:

  • the principles of Newtonian physics

  • In principle I agree that mothers should spend as much time as possible with their young children, but it isn’t easy.

• 4 a basic idea or rule that explains or controls how something happens or works:

  • a principle of sth Those who paid the most would be earning the most: it's a pretty basic principle of fair taxation.

  • basic/fundamental/general principle The general principles of project management are much the same in the two cases.

  • on the principle that The organization works on the principle that all members have the same rights.

  • The country is run on socialist principles.

• 5 a moral rule or standard of good behaviour:

  • I never cheat a customer, as a matter of principle.

  • She'd never ask to borrow money, on principle.

• 6 if you agree with or believe something in principle, you agree with the idea in general, although you might not agree with all the details or support it in every situation:

  • In principle, we support the merger, but we think the value is insufficient.

  • The EU may also move to implement a ban on new investment, previously agreed in principle.

  • In principle, bonuses ought to fall when conditions get tough. In practice, they don't.