principal
Noun pluralprincipals
Often confused with principle
Pluralprincipals
- 1Main or most important, coming before all others.
Like the captain of a team: the one who matters most.
The principal reason for the trip was to visit family.
Her principal worry was running out of money.
UsagePrincipal means main; principle means a rule or belief.
Oppositesecondary, minor, subsidiary
- 2The person in charge of a school, college, or university.
Like the captain of a ship, but for a school.
The principal called an assembly right after lunch.
Our principal visits every classroom each week.
UsageSpell it principal (not
incorrect: principle) for the head of a school.Similarheadteacher, head, headmaster, headmistress
Note
- 3The first amount of money you invest or borrow, before any interest.
Like the seed you plant: the interest is the fruit that grows from it.
She paid back the principal but still owed a year of interest.
Most of your early payments go toward interest, not the principal.
UsageSay the principal and the interest of a loan.
Similarcapital
Note
- 4An owner or main partner in a business.
Like the owner of a store, not just someone who works there.
As a principal in the company, he shares in all the profits.
The two principals signed the merger deal this morning.
Similarproprietor, owner
Note
- 5
- 6
Less common meanings
- 7A basic rule or important point.
Set two classes of monitors to question each other; so that one may try to outquestion the other. Explain to them the principal of every subject they have to teach.
1847, Great Britain. Committee on Education, Minutes of the Committee of Council on EducationHere, principal means the basic rule or main idea.Note
- 8The main person who commits a crime.
Like the lead person in a group, not just someone helping out.
The court treated him as the principal, not just a helper.
The jury decided she was the principal who actually fired the shot.
Similarringleader
Oppositeaccessory
Note
- 9
- 10Having to do with a prince, or like a prince.
But walkt at will, and wandred to and fro, / In the pride of his freedome principall.
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, principall means princely, or like a prince.Note
- 11In computers, a user or program that the system can check and give permissions to.
- 12Chosen from the many possible answers of a math function so only one main value is used.
- 13A set of organ pipes that make a clear, bright sound, also called a diapason.
- 14A strong frame, often made of wood or metal, that holds up the shape of a roof.
- 15One of the first two long feathers at the tip of a hawk's wing.
The first two feathers - Principals
1856, John Henry Walsh, Manual of British Rural Sports - 16One of the tall, candle-topped decorations that once stood on a funeral frame.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Latin prīncipālis, through Old French and Middle English.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Principal derives from Latin prīncipālis through Old French and Middle English. en.wiktionary.org