in principle
53
4.3
- idiom
- /ɪn ˈprɪnsəpəl/
:
en principio
- The committee agreed, in principle, to the new policy changes after a lengthy discussion.
- agreed in principle
- agreement in principle
- possible in principle
OK, So corrective taxation in principle could be the answer.
- OK, So corrective taxation in principle could be the answer.
- If you know that happens, that in principle is reproducible.
- However, This is why it gets tricky because in principle that makes complete sense.
- It was the right decision in principle, but the timing was just awful.
- Now, yes, in principle that's a nice idea.
- That is in principle, although not in practice, right?
- So we'll, we could, in principle, go pretty far down the logic tree.
- PC wrote to Bunting that in principle, we welcome the prospect of a merger.
- It's really important to understand that every country in principle has a unique approach to health.
- I mean it's such a simple concept in principle.
- B Space, space junk, anything on the night sky can in principle be space junk.
Examples
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Now, in principle, pride is a sin.
-
We agree in principle.
-
That is in principle, although not in practice, right?
-
Is that in principle something that could happen one day, do you think?
-
But he and I had a deal... in principle.
-
If this is not a just war in principle, then there are no just wars.
-
OK, now, all right, in principle, the problem is solved.
-
I'm still, at least in principle, a human being.
-
George, the president wants to get out of Vietnam just as much as you do, in principle.
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I have, and they've agreed in principle.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Usually or in most cases
219
1.6
Says something is true most of the time, not about small details
119
6.0
An idea that seems right but is not always true in real life
97
5.3
Used to say the main point while ignoring small details
69
4.9
According to an idea or rule, but not always true in real life
1
3.7
To say something is true in general
1
7.1
In theory or for calculation, it is not actually real
Antonyms
How Accepted
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'accepted or agreed to in a general or fundamental sense' is directly derivable from combining 'in' (within/inside) with 'principle' (a foundational rule): something that is 'in principle' falls within the bounds of principle rather than practice. This preposition+noun compositional pattern is common across languages (e.g. Spanish 'en principio', French 'en principe') and follows regular English semantics, so a B1 learner who knows both words will likely infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
In principle comes from the idea of principle as the first or main part of a plan, like the first stone laid when building a house. Saying you agree in principle means you accept the basic idea or foundation but not the small details yet, so it is like saying 'in theory' rather than giving a final yes.