Principle vs. Rule

Principle vs. Rule — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Principle and Rule

Principlenoun

A fundamental assumption or guiding belief.

We need some sort of principles to reason from.

Rulenoun

A regulation, law, guideline.

All participants must adhere to the rules.

Principlenoun

A rule used to choose among solutions to a problem.

The principle of least privilege holds that a process should only receive the permissions it needs.

Rulenoun

A ruler; device for measuring, a straightedge, a measure.

Principlenoun

Moral rule or aspect.

I don't doubt your principles.You are clearly a person of principle.It's the principle of the thing; I won't do business with someone I can't trust.

Rulenoun

A straight line continuous mark, as made by a pen or the like, especially one lying across a paper as a guide for writing.

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Principlenoun

(physics) A rule or law of nature, or the basic idea on how the laws of nature are applied.

Bernoulli's PrincipleThe Pauli Exclusion Principle prevents two fermions from occupying the same state.The principle of the internal combustion engine

Rulenoun

A regulating principle.

Principlenoun

A fundamental essence, particularly one producing a given quality.

Many believe that life is the result of some vital principle.

Rulenoun

The act of ruling; administration of law; government; empire; authority; control.

Principlenoun

(obsolete) A beginning.

Rulenoun

A normal condition or state of affairs.

My rule is to rise at six o'clock.As a rule, our senior editors are serious-minded.
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Principlenoun

A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.

Rulenoun

(obsolete) Conduct; behaviour.

Principlenoun

An original faculty or endowment.

Rulenoun

(legal) An order regulating the practice of the courts, or an order made between parties to an action or a suit.

Principleverb

(transitive) To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet or rule of conduct.

Rulenoun

(math) A determinate method prescribed for performing any operation and producing a certain result.

a rule for extracting the cube root

Principlenoun

a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct;

their principles of composition characterized all their works

Rulenoun

A thin plate of brass or other metal, of the same height as the type, and used for printing lines, as between columns on the same page, or in tabular work.

Principlenoun

a rule or standard especially of good behavior;

a man of principlehe will not violate his principles

Ruleverb

(transitive) To regulate, be in charge of, make decisions for, reign over.

Principlenoun

a basic truth or law or assumption;

the principles of democracy

Ruleverb

To excel.

This game rules!

Principlenoun

a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system;

the principle of the conservation of massthe principle of jet propulsionthe right-hand rule for inductive fields

Ruleverb

(transitive) To mark (paper or the like) with rules lines.

Principlenoun

rule of personal conduct

Ruleverb

(intransitive) To decide judicially.

Principlenoun

(law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature);

the rationale for capital punishmentthe principles of internal-combustion engines

Ruleverb

(transitive) To establish or settle by, or as by, a rule; to fix by universal or general consent, or by common practice.

Rulenoun

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior;

it was his rule to take a walk before breakfastshort haircuts were the regulation

Rulenoun

something regarded as a normative example;

the convention of not naming the main characterviolence is the rule not the exceptionhis formula for impressing visitors

Rulenoun

prescribed guide for conduct or action

Rulenoun

(linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice

Rulenoun

a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct;

their principles of composition characterized all their works

Rulenoun

a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system;

the principle of the conservation of massthe principle of jet propulsionthe right-hand rule for inductive fields

Rulenoun

the duration of a monarch's or government's power;

during the rule of Elizabeth

Rulenoun

dominance or power through legal authority;

France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africathe rule of Caesar

Rulenoun

directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted;

he knew the rules of chess

Rulenoun

any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order;

the rule of St. Dominic

Rulenoun

(mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems;

he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signshe gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials

Rulenoun

measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths

Ruleverb

exercise authority over; as of nations;

Who is governing the country now?

Ruleverb

decide with authority;

The King decreed that all first-born males should be killed

Ruleverb

be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance;

Money reigns supreme hereHispanics predominate in this neighborhood

Ruleverb

decide on and make a declaration about;

find someone guilty

Ruleverb

have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac

Ruleverb

mark or draw with a ruler;

rule the margins

Ruleverb

keep in check;

rule one's temper