Principle vs. Rule
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.
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 engineRulenoun
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.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 rootPrinciplenoun
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 worksRulenoun
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 principlesRuleverb
(transitive) To regulate, be in charge of, make decisions for, reign over.
Principlenoun
a basic truth or law or assumption;
the principles of democracyRuleverb
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 fieldsRuleverb
(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 enginesRuleverb
(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 regulationRulenoun
something regarded as a normative example;
the convention of not naming the main characterviolence is the rule not the exceptionhis formula for impressing visitorsRulenoun
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 worksRulenoun
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 fieldsRulenoun
the duration of a monarch's or government's power;
during the rule of ElizabethRulenoun
dominance or power through legal authority;
France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africathe rule of CaesarRulenoun
directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted;
he knew the rules of chessRulenoun
any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order;
the rule of St. DominicRulenoun
(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 polynomialsRulenoun
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 killedRuleverb
be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance;
Money reigns supreme hereHispanics predominate in this neighborhoodRuleverb
decide on and make a declaration about;
find someone guiltyRuleverb
have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
Ruleverb
mark or draw with a ruler;
rule the marginsRuleverb
keep in check;
rule one's temper
