grundsätzlich

Adjective

 * 1) based on principle
 * 2) fundamental, elementary, principial

Adverb

 * 1) in principle, as a rule (but with exceptions)
 * 2) absolutely, categorically (without exception)

Usage notes

 * The word is ambiguous, though the sense “in principle” is commoner. To some degree the distinction is one of intonation. For example, the phrase would be understood as “In principle, I don’t do that” when the words  and  are equally stressed, but as “I absolutely never do that” when there is strong stress on.