Collocations for principle - noun

basic, broad, central, fundamental, general, underlying
the basic principles of car maintenance

bedrock (esp. AmE), cardinal, core, essential, key
universal
organizing
His novels reject chronology as an organizing principle.

abstract, theoretical
She is interested in actual human relationships rather than abstract principles.

constitutional, democratic, legal, market, political
mathematical, physical, scientific

violate
This violates every principle of good writing.

embody, embrace, illustrate, incorporate
The house incorporates many principles of modern environmentally aware design.

discover, establish, formulate, lay down
apply, invoke
articulate, explain, outline

apply
This principle applies to all kinds of selling.

underlie sth, underpin sth
the principles underlying Western philosophy

in principle
I agree with you in principle, but we'll need to discuss the details.

principle behind
She went on to explain the principles behind what she was doing.

the pleasure principle, the precautionary principle, the uncertainty principle
Does everything we do come down to the pleasure principle?

high
founding, guiding
Freedom is the founding principle of our Republic.

Biblical, religious
Christian, Islamic, etc.
ethical, moral
He was a man of high moral principles.

abandon, betray, compromise
I refuse to compromise my principles by eating meat.

adhere to, stick to, uphold
She sticks to the principle that everyone should be treated equally.

be enshrined in sth
The principle of equality is enshrined in our Constitution.

against your principles
Eating meat was against her principles.

on principle
She's opposed to abortion on principle.

a matter of principle
They reject the proposal as a matter of principle.

a man/woman of principle (= person with high moral standards)