first principle

noun

1. any axiom, law, or abstraction assumed and regarded as representing the highest possible degree of generalization.

first principle

noun

1. one of the fundamental assumptions on which a particular theory or procedure is thought to be based
2. an axiom of a mathematical or scientific theory

Example Sentences

He questions every assumption in order to drill down to the first principles of physics.

From Time

Still, preliminary evidence and some scientific first principles suggest that mixing vaccine technologies may give a stronger response.

From Popular-Science

Revisiting The Life You Can Save offered more than just a refresher course on Singer’s argument — it felt like rediscovering first principles.

From Vox