Definition

Not having or following moral rules or standards; behaving in a way that is dishonest or unethical.

Example

His unprincipled actions led to a loss of trust among his colleagues.

Conversation

Did you hear about the new manager at work?

Yeah, I heard he's quite unprincipled in how he treats the staff.

That's really disappointing, I thought we were moving in a better direction.

I know, right? It makes you wonder about the company's values.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Unprincipled → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "principled" (from "principle", which comes from Latin "principium", meaning a fundamental truth or proposition). The word "unprincipled" means not adhering to moral principles or lacking a sense of right and wrong.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('un-') following a 'fundamental truth' ('principle') — that's why unprincipled describes someone who does not follow moral guidelines.

Visually Confused Words