first or highest in rank, importance, value, etc.; chief; foremost.
of, of the nature of, or constituting principal or capital: a principal investment.
Geometry. (of an axis of a conic) passing through the foci.
noun
a chief or head.
the head or director of a school or, especially in England, a college.
a person who takes a leading part in any activity, as a play; chief actor or doer.
the first player of a division of instruments in an orchestra (excepting the leader of the first violins).
something of principal or chief importance.
Law.
a person who authorizes another, as an agent, to represent him or her.
a person directly responsible for a crime, either as an actual perpetrator or as an abettor present at its commission.Compare accessory (def. 3).
a person primarily liable for an obligation, in contrast with an endorser, or the like.
the main body of an estate, or the like, as distinguished from income.
Finance. a capital sum, as distinguished from interest or profit.
Music.
an organ stop.
the subject of a fugue.
(in a framed structure) a member, as a truss, upon which adjacent or similar members depend for support or reinforcement.
each of the combatants in a duel, as distinguished from the seconds.
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A high-school principal may not be a very glamorous profession, but this woman recognized it as a chance to influence the young minds of the next generation.
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Origin of principal
1250–1300; Middle English <Latin prīncipālis first, chief, equivalent to prīncip- (see prince) + -ālis-al1
The noun principle and the noun and adjective principal are often confused. Although pronounced alike, the words are not interchangeable in writing. A principle is broadly “a rule of action or conduct” ( His overriding principle is greed ) or “a fundamental doctrine or tenet” ( Their principles do not permit the use of alcoholic beverages ). The adjective principal has the general sense “chief, first, foremost”: My principal objection is the cost of the project. The noun principal has among other meanings “the head or director of a school” ( The faculty supported the principal in her negotiations with the board ) and “a capital sum, as distinguished from interest or profit” ( The monthly payments go mostly for interest, leaving the principal practically untouched ).
OTHER WORDS FROM principal
prin·ci·pal·ship,nounun·der·prin·ci·pal,noun
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH principal
principal , principle (see usage note at the current entry)
Words nearby principal
princess regent, princess royal, princess tree, Princeton, Prince William Sound, principal, principal argument, principal artery of thumb, principal axis, principal boy, principal clause
How This School Principal Uses Words To Make Change HappenA high-school principal may not be a very well-respected profession, but this woman recognized it as a chance to influence the young minds of the next generation and to maybe inspire change early on instead of trying to amend things after they've happened. Here's her story:
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How This School Principal Uses Words To Make Change HappenA high-school principal may not be a very well-respected profession, but this woman recognized it as a chance to influence the young minds of the next generation and to maybe inspire change early on instead of trying to amend things after they've happened. Here's her story: