precept
Rule for conduct
A precept is a rule or principle that guides conduct or action.
The word implies authority—precepts come from teachers, religious texts, legal codes, or moral traditions: the precepts of Buddhism, a legal precept.
Unlike suggestions, precepts carry weight: they're meant to be followed.
He lived by the precept that honesty is the best policy.
Brief moral principle
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
- aphorismTerse general truth
- tenetHeld principle or doctrine
- principleFundamental truth or standard
doctrine · dictum · postulate · proposition · truism · adage · teaching · wisdom
Authoritative rule to obey
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- creedStatement of belief
- canonAccepted authoritative works
catechism · scripture · tenet · covenant · sacrament · liturgy · homily · exegesis
Study of right conduct
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
decency · rectitude · honor · justice · equity · fairness · duty · responsibility
Enacted written rule
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
- edictAuthoritative public command
mandate · injunction · provision · code · bylaw · directive · prescription · dictum
Guidance for action
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- lessonUnit of teaching
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- tutoringIndividual academic guidance
mentorship · training · education · counsel · advice · direction · wisdom · enlightenment
Recommended standard for action
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- procedurePrescribed sequence of actions
method · practice · convention · norm · criterion · benchmark · best practice · rule of thumb
maxim
Brief moral principle
principle · doctrine · dictum · postulate · proposition · truism · adage · teaching · wisdom · stoicism
commandment
Authoritative rule to obey
canon · catechism · scripture · tenet · covenant · sacrament · liturgy · homily · exegesis · dharma
ethics
Study of right conduct
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- conscienceInternal moral sense
righteousness · decency · rectitude · honor · justice · equity · fairness · duty · responsibility · probity
statute
Enacted written rule
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
edict · mandate · injunction · provision · code · bylaw · directive · prescription · dictum · ruling
instruction
Guidance for action
tutoring · mentorship · training · education · counsel · advice · direction · wisdom · enlightenment · edification
guideline
Recommended standard for action
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
procedure · method · practice · convention · norm · criterion · benchmark · best practice · rule of thumb
preceptlawlessness
Absence of governing rules
anarchy · ambiguity · chaos · disorder · disorganization
preceptsuggestion
Idea proposed for consideration
recommendation · hint · whim · impulse · caprice
- moral preceptsRules governing right conduct