first principle
Americannoun
noun
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one of the fundamental assumptions on which a particular theory or procedure is thought to be based
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an axiom of a mathematical or scientific theory
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As in medicine, the first principle of policymakers is “do no harm.”
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
The first principle of economics is: Don’t transfer income by distorting prices.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
The first principle is that the president normally should not be using the military to engage in domestic law enforcement.
From Slate • Sep. 3, 2025
"The first principle in the academic world is that you direct your reader to your source material, and that isn't happening here," she said.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2025
The first principle was that charged particles moving in a perpendicular direction through a magnetic field follow a curved path.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
