a matter of principle

noun phrase

: a situation that requires something be done a certain way because one believes it is the only right way
It was a matter of principle for her that she pay her own way.
As a matter of principle, he would not accept the gift.

Examples of a matter of principle in a Sentence

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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.
Of the two major parties, the Republicans were intended to be the party that stood against top-down interventions, as a matter of principle. — Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2026 In Albares’s telling, his government’s stand is a matter of principle, consistency, and adherence to the importance of international law. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 13 May 2026

Rhymes for a matter of principle

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Browse Nearby Words

a matter of opinion
a matter of principle
a matter of record
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Cite this Entry

“A matter of principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20matter%20of%20principle. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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