What does principle mean?
Word: Principle
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Principle means a basic rule or belief about what is right, which guides how you behave; also a basic law of science.
Synonyms: belief, rule, standard
Sounds like: principal (the head of a school; also main or most important)
How do you spell principle?
Syllables: prin - ci - ple
Tricky part: It ends in ple, not pal. Principal, ending in pal, is a different word meaning the head of a school or the main one.
Watch out for: principel, principul, prinsiple, principlle
Memory tip: A principle is a rule, and both words end in le. The principal of your school is your pal.
Idioms and Phrases
- on principle: because of a firm belief about what is right Example: "She refused to cheat on principle, even in a friendly quiz."
Principle in a sentence
Example 1: Telling the truth is a principle my parents never bend.
Example 2: The science teacher explained the principle behind a simple lever.
Example 3: Gandhi's principle of non-violence inspired leaders around the world.
Fun Fact
Archimedes' principle says that an object in water is pushed up by a force equal to the weight of the water it pushes aside.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Grandpa's principle was to save a little from every salery, and he kept his savings in a small tin box under the stairs.
a) stairs
b) savings
c) salery
d) principle
Show answer
c) salery. Principle is spelt right; the monthly pay word has an e where its a belongs.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word principle as used in the sentence:
Treating every customer fairly is a principle the old cloth merchant never broke.
a) reward
b) puzzle
c) rumour
d) value
Show answer
d) value. A principle here is a belief about what is right, which is a value.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. procede 2. prestine 3. principle 4. priviledge
a) a firm idea of what is right that guides you
b) to go forward or continue
c) clean and as good as new
d) a special right given to some people
Show answer
a) a firm idea of what is right that guides you. Privilege has no d, pristine has an i after the r and proceed a double e.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Never giving up halfway is a npprlicei my coach repeats every week.
a) principle
b) precipice
c) prince
d) principal
Show answer
a) principle. The jumble has an e and no a, so the head-of-school word is out; prince is too short and precipice has a second c.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is a principle someone might live by?
a) Our car is silver.
b) Lunch is at one.
c) Never waste food.
d) The shop shuts at six.
Show answer
c) Never waste food.
2. A person of principle is someone who ____.
a) changes their views every single day
b) runs a large school in the city
c) sticks to what they believe is right
d) knows every law of science by heart
Show answer
c) sticks to what they believe is right
