first principles

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ilyse Hogue: I go back to first principles on a lot of the projects that I work on.

From Slate • May 18, 2026

At the beginning of the 20th century, a new set of first principles of government was introduced into the American mainstream.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

He will give a speech later about his first principles - his values and his patriotism.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Rationalists—like lawyers relying on “common sense” reasoning—believe we can deduce truth from first principles.

From Slate • Sep. 26, 2025

Aristotelian philosophy had been based on the idea that one ought to be able to deduce sciences from generally accepted first principles, so that all science would be comparable to geometry.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton