in principle

phrase

: with respect to fundamentals
They accepted the offer in principle.

Examples of in principle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Most people agree in principle that patients should direct their own lives and medical decisions. Christopher Campos, STAT, 3 Aug. 2026 Everton have reached an agreement in principle to sign Christian Norgaard from Arsenal for a fee in the region of £7million. David Ornstein, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Some of them will be only ameliorated or policed; others might be unsolvable in principle. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026 Two firms examining the same company should, in principle, reach the same opinion. Amir Tarighat, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for in principle

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20principle. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster