Meaning & use
precept
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Meanings
nouncountableformal
A guiding rule or principle about how people should behave or think, especially in morals.
Grammar: Often followed by a that clause or of: the precept that honesty matters.
Patterns
- a precept of something
- the precept that something
Treat others as you wish to be treated is a precept many families teach.
The school was run on the precept that every child can learn.
She lived by the precept that kindness costs nothing.
nouncountablelegalrare
A written command or order, especially one issued by an authority such as a court.
Grammar: This legal sense is rare outside historical or British legal writing.
Patterns
- a precept to someone
The council sent a precept to the district asking for its share of the tax.
A judge issued a precept ordering the document to be produced.
The old law was based on royal precepts.
verbtransitivespecialistmedical
To supervise and teach a student during practical training, especially in nursing or medicine.
Grammar: Takes an object: she precepts new nurses.
Patterns
- precept someone
She precepts two nursing students each semester.
The surgeon agreed to precept a resident this year.
Experienced staff precepted the newcomers on the ward.
Word forms
| plural | precepts |
|---|---|
| third person singular | precepts |
| past tense | precepted |
| past participle | precepted |
| -ing form | precepting |
Common combinations
- a basic precept
- A basic precept of medicine is to do no harm.
- a moral precept
- He rarely broke a moral precept.
- follow a precept
- Few people follow every precept they learn.
- the precept that
- The club operates on the precept that all members are equal.
- religious precepts
- The faith's precepts guide daily life.
Synonyms and how they differ
- principle
- A principle is a broad belief behind actions, while a precept is a stated rule meant to be followed.
- maxim
- A maxim is a short, memorable saying, whereas a precept can be longer and more formal.
- commandment
- A commandment is an order from a higher authority, usually divine, and carries more force.
- rule
- Rule is everyday and can be about anything, while precept suggests moral or philosophical guidance.
Word family
- preceptor noun
- a teacher or mentor, especially in medical training
- preceptorship noun
- a period of supervised practical training
- precepting noun
- the act of supervising a trainee
Commonly confused: precept or percept? precept or concept?
precept vs percept
A percept is something grasped by the senses, unrelated to a rule of behavior.
precept vs concept
A concept is an idea, while a precept is a rule that tells people how to act.
Practice
Which word best completes: The teacher lived by the ___ that every mistake is a chance to learn.
Choose one answer.
A precept is a guiding rule or principle. Percept is a similar-looking word for something perceived through the senses.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “precept”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.