Key and Principle

Key

Key noun - An explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart.

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Principle and key are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Principle" instead a noun "Key".

Nearby Words: keyed, keyboard, keying

Principle noun - A basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct.

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Key and principle are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Key" instead a noun "Principle".

Nearby Words: principal, principled, principally, principe

old	old key	old principle
physical	physical key	physical principle
particular	particular key	particular principle
similar	similar key	similar principle
Other adjectives: original, single, simple, real, main, important, necessary, new, major, different, higher.

This is the principle of the safety key in most exercise machines, especially treadmills.

Source: Dead Man Switch
In the electronic editing era, the matte shot is often used to refer to a Chroma Key shot, which uses a similar principle.

Source: Matte Shot
A communications device was invented by the Norwegians after WWII based on this principle, but since each message requires pre-delivery of a key as long as the message itself, they deemed it completely useless.

Source: Reading the Enemy's Mail

Cite this Source

Principle and Key. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 03, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/key/principle

Key & Principle. N.p., 2016. Web. 03 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/key/principle>.

Principle or Key. 2016. Accessed August 03, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/key/principle.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "key" and "principle" have occurred on timeline