in principle
prep_phraseEtymology From in + principle (the noun ultimately from Latin principium). Compare French en principe, German im Prinzip, Dutch in principe, Swedish i princip, Danish i princippet.
1
With regard to the fundamentals, but not to the particulars.
- agree in principle
- approve in principle
4 more examples
- support in principle
- In principle, I agree with your proposal, but we need more details.
- The plan is acceptable in principle.
- "If Russia mobilises, it is for defence. No nation in the world would dream of attacking Germany, nor has Germany the slightest intention of imperilling her coming supremacy amongst the nations by such crude methods as military enterprise. Servia must be punished, naturally, but to that, in principle, every nation in Europe is agreed. We shall not permit Austria to overstep the mark."1920, Edward Phillips Oppenheim, The Great Impersonation, Chapter 25:
2
According to theory.
- Related terms
- on principle