Principal

Quick meaning: Principal is an adjective meaning Primary; most important; first level in importance.

Meaning

Primary; most important; first level in importance.

More Meanings

1. (mathematics) Chosen or assumed among a branch of possible values of a multi-valued function so that the function is single-valued.
2. (finance, uncountable) The money originally invested or loaned, on which basis interest and returns are calculated.
3. (Canada, US, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines) The chief administrator of a school.
4. (UK, Canada) The chief executive and chief academic officer of a university or college.
5. (law) The primary participant in a crime.
6. (law) A legal person that authorizes another (the agent) to act on their behalf; or on whose behalf an agent or gestor in a negotiorum gestio acts.
7. (obsolete, Latinism) Of or relating to a prince; princely.

Example Sentences

Smith is the principal architect of this design.

The principal cause of the failure was poor planning.

But walkt at will, and wandred to and fro, / In the pride of his freedome principall.

For many years, Oslo had no railway communication with Bergen and Stavanger, the principal seaports on the south-west coast.

Word Forms

• principall
• principals

Synonyms for principal

Depending on context, synonyms include chief, main, primary, headteacher, headmaster, headmistress.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include primary, main, important, chief, corpus, dealer.

Commonly Confused & Compared Words

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