cardinal principle

[/ˈkɑːrdənəl ˈprɪnsəpəl/]
nounpl: cardinal principles
princípio fundamental
1. A basic, essential, or most important principle that serves as the foundation for a system, belief, or practice
Freedom of speech is a cardinal principle of democracy.
A liberdade de expressão é um princípio fundamental da democracia.
2. A primary rule or conviction that is considered vital and cannot be compromised
Honesty is a cardinal principle in our company's code of ethics.
A honestidade é um princípio fundamental no código de ética da nossa empresa.
The term 'cardinal principle' is widely used in both American and Brazilian academic, legal, and philosophical discourse. In the USA, it frequently appears in constitutional law and business ethics discussions. In Brazil, it is common in educational and institutional contexts, often used to describe fundamental values in organizational hierarchies and democratic structures.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
fundamental principlecore principlebasic principleessential principleguiding principle
Antonyms / Antônimos
secondary principleminor principleperipheral concept

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
princípio fundamental
Most common and neutral term across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
princípio cardinal
More formal and academic usage
São Paulo
princípio essencial
Used in business and corporate contexts
Portugal
princípio cardinal
Formal academic and legal language

Related Words

principlefundamentalcornerstonefoundationaxiomdoctrine

Related Idioms & Phrases

a cardinal principle of something
stand by a cardinal principle
violate a cardinal principle
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →