first-order
adj1
Human sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Philosophy, Sciences Of one of a series of models, languages, relationship, forms of logical discourse, etc., being the simplest one or the first in a sequence.
2
Of fundamental importance.
- If our goal is to put out the fire—to alleviate a humanitarian crisis broadly referenced in mainstream discourse as "mass incarceration" and "overcriminalization"— that are the specific benefits that flow from making fair policymaking process a first-order principle in the criminal-justice reform movement?2021, Trevor George Gardner, “By Any Means: A Philosophical Frame for Rulemaking Reform in Criminal Law”, in Yale Law Journal Forum, page 800:
- Derived terms
- first-order approximation, first-order control, first-order difference, first-order election, first-order fluid, first-order function, first-order hold, first-order levelling, first-order logic, first-order ordinary differential, first-order predicate, first-order question, first-order reaction, first-order relief, first-order spectrum, first-order station, first-order subroutine, first-order theory, first-order transition, first-order variable
- Related terms
- second-order