principal
PRIHN-sih-puhl
Principal (adj) means Most important; main. Example: “The principal reason for the delay was the weather.”
adj
1
Most important; main.
"The principal reason for the delay was the weather."
"Cotton is the region's principal export."
"Her principal concern was keeping the children safe on the trip."
noun
1
The head of a school.
"The principal called an assembly to address the students."
"The principal shook hands with every pupil on the last day of term."
"Our principal visits each classroom once a week."
2
A sum of money originally invested or lent, before interest.
"After ten years, most of her payments had gone to interest rather than the principal."
"You pay interest on the principal, so a smaller loan costs less."
"He paid off the principal early to reduce what he owed overall."
How to use principal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe main or most important thing/person — or, in schools and finance, a specific job title and a specific sum of money.
Common mistake
Frequently confused with principle (a rule or belief). Remember: the school PRINCIPAL is your PAL; a PRINCIPLE is a RULE.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
school principal
principal reason
pay down the principal
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Word forms
- Plural
- principals
- Comparative
- more principal
- Superlative
- most principal
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ reason for the delay was the weather.
Etymology
From Old French principal, from Latin prīncipālis ("first, foremost").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for principal
See all rhymes for principal →Frequently asked questions
What does “principal” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “principal”?
“Principal” is pronounced PRIHN-sih-puhl (/ˈpɹɪn.sɪ.pəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “principal” in a sentence?
Here is “principal” used in a sentence: “The principal reason for the delay was the weather.”
What part of speech is “principal”?
Depending on how it is used, “principal” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “principal” come from?
The word “principal” comes from Latin. From Old French principal, from Latin prīncipālis ("first, foremost").
Is “principal” a common word?
“Principal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “principal” have?
“Principal” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: most important; main.
What is the difference between principal and principle?
"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.
How do you remember principal vs 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.
What is an example of principal used in a sentence?
"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.
Can principal also be a noun?
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.
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