Characteristic vs. Principle: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 30, 2023
A characteristic is a distinguishing trait or quality, while a principle is a fundamental truth or proposition serving as a foundation for belief or action.
Difference Between Characteristic and Principle
The English language possesses a wealth of words that, though seemingly similar, carry different implications. Such is the case with "characteristic" and "principle." The term characteristic primarily refers to a quality or feature that makes an individual, group, or thing recognizable or distinctive. When you describe someone's characteristic smile, for instance, you're pinpointing a unique aspect of their expression that stands out.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
On the other hand, principle dives into the domain of beliefs, morals, and foundational truths. It represents an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct. For instance, adhering to the principle of honesty implies that one values truthfulness and seeks to uphold it in their actions. Principles guide behaviors, decisions, and judgments.
Muazma Batool
Sep 30, 2023
In many instances, the distinction is clear. Characteristics are often observational and descriptive, used to paint a picture of something or someone. They could be physical, behavioral, or even abstract, such as the characteristics of a successful business model. Principles, meanwhile, have a philosophical or moral dimension. They are the bedrock upon which actions, beliefs, or systems are built.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
Conclusively, while both characteristic and principle touch upon defining and understanding aspects of entities, they operate in different arenas. Characteristics detail and describe, providing a clearer image, while principles provide a foundational stance or belief from which actions stem.
Levi
Sep 30, 2023
Characteristic vs. Principle Comparison Chart
Primary Definition
Distinguishing trait or quality
Fundamental truth or proposition serving as a foundation for action
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Sep 30, 2023
Field of Application
Can apply to objects, individuals, concepts, etc.
Often linked to beliefs, ethics, and behaviors
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Sep 30, 2023
Example Usage
"Her laughter is her defining characteristic."
"He always acts on the principle of integrity."
Elijah
Sep 30, 2023
Characteristic vs. Principle Definitions
◉Characteristic
Typical or representative of a particular person or thing.
It was characteristic of her to forget the meeting.
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Sep 30, 2023
◉Principle
A fundamental truth or proposition serving as a foundation for a belief or action.
The principle of freedom is essential to democracy.
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Sep 30, 2023
◉Characteristic
Serving to define or describe.
The characteristic equation helps solve the problem.
Henry
Sep 30, 2023
◉Principle
A moral rule or belief governing one's behavior.
He lives by the principle of honesty.
Nolan
Sep 30, 2023
◉Characteristic
A feature or quality distinguishing a particular person or thing.
Red is a characteristic color of apples.
Kaitlyn
Sep 30, 2023
◉Principle
A basic source or origin of something.
The generator operates on the principle of electromagnetic induction.
Levi
Sep 30, 2023
◉Characteristic
A distinctive trait or aspect.
Persistence is a key characteristic of successful individuals.
Olivia
Sep 30, 2023
◉Principle
A rule or standard, especially of good behavior.
A man of principle refuses to lie.
Elijah
Sep 30, 2023
◉Characteristic
Being a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing; distinctive
heard my friend's characteristic laugh.
the stripes that are characteristic of the zebra.
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May 03, 2023
◉Characteristic
A feature that helps to identify, tell apart, or describe recognizably; a distinguishing mark or trait.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
A rule or standard, especially of good behavior
a man of principle.
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May 03, 2023
◉Characteristic
(Mathematics) The integral part of a logarithm as distinguished from the mantissa
The characteristic of the logarithm 6.3214 is 6.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
The collectivity of moral or ethical standards or judgments
a decision based on principle rather than expediency.
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May 03, 2023
◉Characteristic
(Mathematics) The least number of times the multiplicative identity in a ring needs to be added to itself to reach the additive identity, or, if the additive identity is never reached, zero. The integers have a characteristic of zero; the integers modulo 12 have a characteristic of 12.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
A basic or essential quality or element determining intrinsic nature or characteristic behavior
the principle of self-preservation.
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◉Principle
A rule or law concerning the functioning of natural phenomena or mechanical processes
the principle of jet propulsion.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
(Chemistry) One of the elements that compose a substance, especially one that gives some special quality or effect.
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◉Characteristic
(nautical) The distinguishing features of a navigational light on a lighthouse etc by which it can be identified (colour, pattern of flashes etc.).
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◉Characteristic
For a given field or ring, a natural number that is either the smallest positive number n such that n instances of the multiplicative identity (1) summed together yield the additive identity (0) or, if no such number exists, the number 0.
The characteristic of a field, if non-zero, must be a prime number.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
A fundamental assumption or guiding belief.
We need some sort of principles to reason from.
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May 03, 2023
◉Characteristic
Pertaining to, or serving to constitute, the character; showing the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or thing; peculiar; distinctive.
Characteristic clearness of temper.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
A rule used to choose among solutions to a problem.
The principle of least privilege holds that a process should only receive the permissions it needs.
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May 03, 2023
◉Characteristic
A distinguishing trait, quality, or property; an element of character; that which characterized.
The characteristics of a true critic.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
Moral rule or aspect.
I don't doubt your principles.
You are clearly a person of principle.
It's the principle of the thing; I won't do business with someone I can't trust.
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May 03, 2023
◉Characteristic
The integral part (whether positive or negative) of a logarithm.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
(physics) A rule or law of nature, or the basic idea on how the laws of nature are applied.
Bernoulli's Principle
The Pauli Exclusion Principle prevents two fermions from occupying the same state.
The principle of the internal combustion engine
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May 03, 2023
◉Characteristic
a prominent aspect of something;
the map showed roads and other features
generosity is one of his best characteristics
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◉Principle
A fundamental essence, particularly one producing a given quality.
Many believe that life is the result of some vital principle.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.
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May 03, 2023
◉Characteristic
the integer part (positive or negative) of the representation of a logarithm; in the expression log 643 = 2.808 the characteristic is 2
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◉Characteristic
any measurable property of a device measured under closely specified conditions
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◉Characteristic
typical or distinctive;
heard my friend's characteristic laugh
red and gold are the characteristic colors of autumn
stripes characteristic of the zebra
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May 03, 2023
◉Characteristic
Being a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing.
Bold patterns are a characteristic of his designs.
Kaitlyn
Sep 30, 2023
◉Principle
(transitive) To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet or rule of conduct.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.
The soul of man is an active principle.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
An original faculty or endowment.
Nature in your principles hath set [benignity].
Those active principles whose direct and ultimate object is the communication either of enjoyment or suffering.
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◉Principle
A fundamental truth; a comprehensive law or doctrine, from which others are derived, or on which others are founded; a general truth; an elementary proposition; a maxim; an axiom; a postulate.
Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.
A good principle, not rightly understood, may prove as hurtful as a bad.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
A settled rule of action; a governing law of conduct; an opinion or belief which exercises a directing influence on the life and behavior; a rule (usually, a right rule) of conduct consistently directing one's actions; as, a person of no principle.
All kinds of dishonesty destroy our pretenses to an honest principle of mind.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
Any original inherent constituent which characterizes a substance, or gives it its essential properties, and which can usually be separated by analysis; - applied especially to drugs, plant extracts, etc.
Cathartine is the bitter, purgative principle of senna.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet, or rule of conduct, good or ill.
Governors should be well principled.
Let an enthusiast be principled that he or his teacher is inspired.
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct;
their principles of composition characterized all their works
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◉Principle
a rule or standard especially of good behavior;
a man of principle
he will not violate his principles
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system;
the principle of the conservation of mass
the principle of jet propulsion
the right-hand rule for inductive fields
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
(law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature);
the rationale for capital punishment
the principles of internal-combustion engines
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May 03, 2023
◉Principle
A general scientific theorem or natural law.
The principle of conservation of energy is well-established.
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Characteristic vs. Principle Frequently Asked Questions
Is principle always related to moral beliefs?
While often tied to morals or beliefs, a principle can also denote a general scientific theorem or natural law.
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Sep 30, 2023
Is every trait of a person a characteristic?
Typically, yes, traits that distinguish or define a person can be deemed characteristics.
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Sep 30, 2023
What does characteristic mainly describe?
Characteristic primarily refers to a distinguishing trait or quality of something or someone.
Muazma Batool
Sep 30, 2023
Can a characteristic be both physical and behavioral?
Yes, characteristics can describe physical traits, behaviors, or even abstract features.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
How are principles typically used in decision-making?
Principles serve as foundational truths or beliefs that guide actions, decisions, and judgments.
Levi
Sep 30, 2023
Can societies have shared principles?
Yes, often societies or cultures have shared principles that guide collective behavior and beliefs.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
In science, how is the word principle used?
In science, a principle often refers to a foundational truth, theorem, or natural law, like the principle of relativity.
Jonathan
Sep 30, 2023
Do principles always have to be universally accepted?
No, principles can be personal beliefs or widely-recognized truths.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
When describing a product, which word is more apt?
When detailing the features of a product, "characteristic" would be more appropriate.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
How is a characteristic different from a habit?
While both can be traits, a characteristic is more innate or natural, whereas a habit is often learned or acquired.
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Sep 30, 2023
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