principal

The word “principal” means most important; main. In plain terms, the main or most important thing/person — or, in schools and finance, a specific job title and a specific sum of money.

“Principal” is pronounced PRIHN-sih-puhl (/ˈpɹɪn.sɪ.pəl/ in IPA).

Here is “principal” used in a sentence: “The principal reason for the delay was the weather.”

Depending on how it is used, “principal” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “principal” comes from Latin. From Old French principal, from Latin prīncipālis ("first, foremost").

“Principal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Principal” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: most important; main.

"Principal" means most important or main, as in the principal reason, and as a noun it names a head teacher or a sum of money. "Principle" is only a noun, meaning a fundamental rule or belief, as in a matter of principle. If you mean a rule, choose principle.

Remember that the principal is your "pal" — the word ending in "pal" refers to the main person, such as a school principal, or to something main or chief. "Principle" ends in "-ple" and always means a rule, standard, or belief. When you mean a rule, use principle.

"Safety is our principal concern" means safety is the most important concern. Other examples include "the principal cause of the delay," "her principal source of income," and "the principal characters in the play." In each, "principal" points to the leading, main, or chief element among several.

Yes. Besides meaning main or most important, "principal" is a noun with several senses: the head of a school, the lead performer in a company, the main party in a contract, or the original sum of a loan or investment, apart from interest. Context shows which meaning applies.