# in principle

> English word · Prep_phrase

## Definitions
1. With regard to the fundamentals, but not to the particulars.
2. According to theory.

## Etymology
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.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/in-principle