principled
PRIN-suh-puld
/ˈprɪnsəpld/
Acting in accordance with strict moral principles or ethical standards.
Highlights that actions are guided by conscious rules and ethics rather than personal convenience or profit.
The story behind the word. Originates from Latin 'principium' (beginning or origin), coming from 'princeps' (first, chief). A principle is a foundational truth laid down first before everything else; a principled person builds every decision upon that firmly laid foundation.
Word relationships
- ethical: Ethical refers to conforming to accepted professional or social rules, while principled suggests personal adherence to deep inner beliefs.
- high-minded: High-minded stresses lofty ideals, whereas principled stresses steady obedience to moral guidelines.
- unprincipled: Lacking moral principles; unscrupulous.
- opportunistic: Taking advantage of opportunities without regard for principles.
Commonly confused with
- principal: Principal means main or a school administrator; principled means possessing ethical principles.
Word family
- principle (noun): A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for belief or behavior.
- unprincipled (adjective): Not acting according to moral principles.
Collocations
- principled stance
- principled opposition
- principled leader
- highly principled
Idioms & expressions
- stand on principle
Example sentences
- "She was widely respected as a principled leader who never voted against her conscience." Political endorsement
- "The firm took a principled stance against using child labor anywhere in its supply chain." Business ethics
Memory hook
PRINCI-PLED: pledged to principles from the beginning. Built on first principles.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'principal' (a school head or chief money amount).
Fun facts
- A useful spelling trick: 'The PRINCI-PAL is your PAL, but a PRINCI-PLE is a RULE.'
Related words
Explore more words
propriety, conscientious, probity, punctilious, virtue, ethical
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