principled

American  

[prin-suh-puhld] / ˈprɪn sə pəld /

adjective

1. imbued with or having moral principles (often used in combination).

   high-principled.

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principled British  

/ ˈprɪnsɪpəld /

adjective

1. 1. having high moral principles

   2. ( in combination )

      high-principled

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Other Word Forms

• misprincipled adjective
• nonprincipled adjective
• well-principled adjective

Etymology

Origin of principled

First recorded in 1635–45; principle + -ed ³

Example Sentences

If consciousness emerges from physical processes in biological brains, there’s no principled reason to believe similar processes in artificial systems couldn’t give rise to it too.

From The Wall Street Journal

She wants to be seen as principled and reasonable without ever taking a stand that would alienate a lucrative audience segment.

From Salon

Pathetic and prideful, yet ultimately a principled father, Oscar tries to revitalize his nonexistent career by encouraging one of his students to pursue poetry.

From Los Angeles Times

Will’s objections, based on his past writings, may be more aesthetic than principled, the product of a neatly compartmentalized mind.

From Salon

In the immediate term, America needs the equivalent of those retired cops and off-duty sheriffs from 1976—principled leaders who step up as a stopgap for the most urgent challenges.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• conscientious
• decent
• equitable
• honest
• honorable
• humane
• moral
• moralistic
• noble
• righteous
• virtuous