on principle

idiom

: because of one's beliefs

She refused on principle to give toy guns to the children.

Examples of on principle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This final part of the process has been blocked by three countries—India, South Africa, and Turkey—that object on principle to the notion of plurilateral (rather than multilateral) agreements within the WTO. —Kristen Hopewell, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2024

On a Saturday in February, 1960, during a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s, Lewis was punched in the ribs by a counter-protester, and then arrested along with dozens of fellow-students, who refused to pay their bail on principle. —Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024

Though she’s had small groups of detractors attend her campaign stops, several progressive Democrats have sat them out on principle. —Candy Woodall, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2024

But this historic, election-year moment brings to mind other times when political or community leaders showed moral courage, spoke out when others remained silent, stood on principle or broke through barriers. —Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 23 July 2024