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.

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

All departments have also reassessed spending from first principles, as part of a "zero-based" review.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2025

But sometimes the most important work is simply clearing the debris, removing the judicial inventions that cloud the text, and returning to first principles.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2025

For us to truly understand something, we have to be able to re-create the effect from first principles, if the principles at work are indeed what create the effect.

From Slate • Feb. 26, 2025

Our first principles told us that Pauling could not be the greatest of all chemists without realizing that DNA was the most golden of all molecules.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson