Meanings
proper nounthe Peter principle
- managementThe theory that people in an organization tend to rise (be promoted) to the level of their incompetence.
Origin
Formulated by Laurence J. Peter.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic مَبْدَأ بِيتَر, مَبْدَأ پِيتَر
- مَبْدَأ بِيتَر (mabdaʔ bītar)theory
- مَبْدَأ پِيتَر (mabdaʔ pītar)theory
Finnish Peterin periaate
- Peterin periaatetheory
German Peter-Prinzip
- Peter-Prinziptheory
Icelandic Péturslögmálið
- Péturslögmáliðtheory
Polish zasada Petera
- zasada Peteratheory
Cite this entry
APA
Peter principle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Peter%20principle
MLA
“Peter principle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Peter%20principle. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Peter principle,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Peter%20principle.
Source: Peter principle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.