Before choosing a principle synonym, ask whether your sentence means a moral belief, a scientific law, or a working rule. For morals, try value, standard or ethic. For basic truths, try law or fundamental. For guides to action, try rule, guideline or maxim.
The plural changes things again: someone's principles are their values or integrity, while the principles of a subject are its basics. Each case is covered below, along with the principal versus principle spelling trap.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
value, standard, rule, belief, tenetPart of speech
NounMost formal
precept, axiom, probityMost casual
rule of thumb, basicsAntonyms
dishonesty, corruption, expediencyWord forms covered
principles, principled, in principle, on principleWatch out
Principal means main or the head of a school. Principle is a rule or belief.
Five senses of principle, side by side
| What you mean | Swap in | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Personal morals | value, ethic, conviction | Fairness is a core value for her. |
| Law of nature | law, axiom, fundamental | Gravity follows a simple law. |
| Rule for action | rule, guideline, maxim | Our maxim is to measure twice. |
| Basics of a field | fundamentals, basics, rudiments | The course covers the fundamentals of design. |
| Good character | integrity, honor, scruples | He refused the bribe out of integrity. |
Ladder of tone for each principle synonym
Principle chips climb in formality. Rule is plain and practical. Belief is personal and can be religious or political. Standard suggests a level you measure behavior against. Precept is a formal instruction, often from a teacher or a tradition. Tenet is one belief within a larger system, such as a tenet of a faith or a school of thought.
In logic and mathematics, axiom means a starting truth accepted without proof, and doctrine is a body of teaching. Use both with care in everyday prose, where they can sound rigid.
Principles synonym picks for the plural
A person of principles has values, morals, ethics or scruples. Scruples is mostly used with a negative: "he has no scruples." The principles of a subject become fundamentals, essentials or basics, and rudiments for the very first steps.
- She stuck to her principles becomes she stuck to her values.
- The principles of accounting becomes the fundamentals of accounting.
- Basic principles of first aid becomes the essentials of first aid.
The adjective principled swaps with ethical, honorable or upright.
Phrases: in principle and on principle
These two look alike but differ. In principle means in theory or broadly: "we agree in principle" becomes we broadly agree or we agree in theory. On principle means because of a moral belief: "she refused on principle" becomes she refused as a matter of conscience. A matter of principle is something you will not compromise on.
A manager emails a supplier: "We agree on principle to the new price." That says they agree for moral reasons, which is odd. The fix is "We agree in principle to the new price, pending the final contract."
Principle or principal, and other mix-ups
The most common error is spelling. Principal means main (the principal reason) or a person in charge (the school principal). Principle is always a noun for a rule or belief. A memory trick: a principle is a rule, and both end in le.
Also, idea and opinion are not good swaps, since a principle is firmer than either. Policy is a rule chosen by an organization, which may change; a principle is meant to last. For the foundation sense, try foundation or belief alternatives instead.
Antonyms for principle
For the moral sense, the opposite is a lack of principle: dishonesty, corruption or unscrupulousness. Expediency means doing what is convenient rather than right, which makes it a precise contrast in essays. For a general rule, the opposite is an exception.
- The board chose expediency over principle.
- This case is an exception to the usual rule.
Term paper writers can pair principle with tenet, axiom and doctrine using vocabulary for essays.
Frequently asked questions
Is value a good principle synonym?
Yes, for the moral sense. Values are the beliefs behind behavior, and company charters love the plural.
Someone with principles: which nouns describe that?
Integrity, ethics, morals and scruples all work. Integrity is the most positive and is often used as a single noun.
Tenet or principle: which should I use?
Use tenet for one belief within a larger system of thought or faith. Principle is more general and fits rules, laws and morals.
What is the opposite of principle?
For morals, dishonesty or corruption. In an essay, expediency is a sharp contrast because it means choosing convenience over what is right.
Does in principle mean the same as on principle?
No. In principle means in theory. On principle means for moral reasons, as in refusing something because it feels wrong.