Engineering English
Principle of Least Privilege
Software Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A security concept that grants users or processes only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks. This reduces the attack surface and limits damage from compromised accounts.
Example in context
“Following the principle of least privilege, the new service account was limited to read-only access on the database.”
“En az ayrıcalık ilkesini takiben, yeni hizmet hesabı veritabanında yalnızca okuma erişimiyle sınırlandırıldı.”
Where engineers use it
The principle of least privilege appears in security policies, cloud IAM configurations, and operating system permissions. Engineers apply it when designing roles, granting access, and configuring containers to minimize risk.
Synonyms: least privilege principle, minimal privilege
Antonyms: principle of maximum privilege
Practice: can you use “Principle of Least Privilege” at work?
A developer gives full admin rights to a cron job that only needs to read logs. Explain why this violates the principle of least privilege and how to correct it.
Show a model answer
“Apply the principle of least privilege when assigning permissions to microservices.”
“Principle of Least Privilege” in 21 languages
| English | Principle of Least Privilege |
|---|---|
| Turkish | en az ayrıcalık ilkesi |
| French | principe du moindre privilège |
| German | Prinzip der geringsten Privilegien |
| Spanish | principio de mínimo privilegio |
| Chinese | 最小权限原则 |
| Arabic | مبدأ الحد الأدنى من الامتيازات |
| Portuguese | princípio do menor privilégio |
| Russian | принцип наименьших привилегий |
| Japanese | 最小権限の原則 |
| Italian | principio del minimo privilegio |
| Vietnamese | nguyên tắc đặc quyền tối thiểu |
| Hindi | न्यूनतम विशेषाधिकार का सिद्धांत |
| Thai | หลักการสิทธิ์น้อยที่สุด |
| Indonesian | prinsip hak istimewa paling rendah |
| Korean | 최소 권한 원칙 |
| Bengali | ন্যূনতম বিশেষাধিকারের নীতি |
| Dutch | principe van minimale bevoegdheden |
| Swedish | principen om minsta privilegium |
| Finnish | vähimmäisoikeuksien periaate |
| Ukrainian | принцип найменших привілеїв |
Frequently asked questions
What does Principle of Least Privilege mean in engineering?
A security concept that grants users or processes only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks. This reduces the attack surface and limits damage from compromised accounts. In Software Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Principle of Least Privilege?
Principle of Least Privilege is pronounced /ˈprɪnsəpəl ʌv liːst ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Principle of Least Privilege used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “Following the principle of least privilege, the new service account was limited to read-only access on the database.”
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