principal
principal Lexical Profile
principal Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
First in order of importance; main or chief.
"The country's principal export is coffee, which accounts for nearly half of its foreign trade revenue."
• noun
The person with the highest authority or most important position in an organization, institution, or group, especially the head of an elementary or secondary school.
"The high school principal addressed the graduating class during the commencement ceremony."
An original sum of money lent or invested, on which interest is paid, as distinct from the interest or profit itself.
"By making extra monthly payments, the homeowners managed to pay down the principal on their mortgage much faster."
The leading performer in a concert, play, ballet, or opera, or the first chair player of an orchestral section.
"After dancing in the corps de ballet for five years, she was promoted to principal with the national company."
A person directly responsible for a crime, or a party who empowers another to act as their legal agent in a transaction.
"Under contract law, an agent has a fiduciary duty to act in the best financial interest of the principal."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Principal" is frequently confused with its homophone "principle." While "principal" functions as an adjective meaning "main" or "most important" and as a noun referring to the head of a school or a capital sum, "principle" is strictly a noun denoting a fundamental truth, rule, or moral standard.
• Rhymes for principal
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French "principal," from Latin "principalis" (first in importance, original), derived from "princeps" (first person, leader, ruler), a compound of "primus" (first) and "capere" (to take).