in principle

Idioms  

1. Fundamentally, in general, but not necessarily in all particulars. For example, The diplomats accepted the idea in principle but would rely on experts to work out all the details. [Early 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in principle

“He was an American in principle, if not by birth,” another biographer once observed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

Lorch and other Pentagon and State Department officials flew to Caracas in the final days of that month and agreed in principle to a deal.

From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026

The Russian leader said afterward that Moscow was ready in principle to rejoin talks with Ukraine and the United States to end the war.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026

Mark Sanchez has reached an agreement in principle to end the civil case against him filed by a truck driver who got into a physical altercation with the former USC and NFL quarterback last fall.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

One is long life expectancy, which in principle should give prospective inventors the years necessary to accumulate technical knowledge, as well as the patience and security to embark on long development programs yielding delayed rewards.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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