core principles

Meaning

1. 1nounplural

   The most basic ideas or rules that a person, group or system depends on and from which other decisions follow.

   Grammar: Plural phrase taking a plural verb: the core principles are clear.

   Patterns

   • the core principles of something
   • stick to your core principles

   The core principles of the school are respect, honesty and curiosity.

   She refused to compromise her core principles for a promotion.

   The report lists three core principles for safe design.

Common combinations

core principles of

The core principles of the treaty protect small nations.

stick to core principles

The party promised to stick to its core principles.

abandon core principles

Critics said the leader had abandoned core principles.

fundamental core principles

Teamwork and trust are the core principles of the group.

core principles guide

Core principles guide how the company treats customers.

Synonyms and how they differ

fundamentals

Fundamentals can mean basic skills or facts as well as values, while core principles are about guiding rules.

cornerstones

Cornerstones suggests ideas that other things are built on, with a more figurative, supportive image.

basic values

Basic values emphasizes personal beliefs, while core principles can describe rules for a system or policy.

Opposites

Word family

principle noun

a basic rule or belief

principled adjective

acting according to firm moral beliefs

unprincipled adjective

lacking moral rules

core noun

the central or most important part

Commonly confused: core principles or principal?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “core principles”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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