Definitions for principal
ˈprɪn sə pəlprin·ci·pal

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.6 / 7 votes

1. principalnoun

   the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated

2. principal, school principal, head teacher, headnoun

   the educator who has executive authority for a school

   "she sent unruly pupils to see the principal"

3. star, principal, leadnoun

   an actor who plays a principal role

4. principal, corpus, principal sumnoun

   capital as contrasted with the income derived from it

5. principalnoun

   (criminal law) any person involved in a criminal offense, regardless of whether the person profits from such involvement

6. principal, dealeradjective

   the major party to a financial transaction at a stock exchange; buys and sells for his own account

7. chief(a), main(a), primary(a), principal(a), master(a)adjective

   most important element

   "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. principalnoun

   The money originally invested or loaned, on which basis interest and returns are calculated.

   A portion of your mortgage payment goes to reduce the principal, and the rest covers interest.

2. principalnoun

   The chief administrator of a school.

3. principalnoun

   The chief executive and chief academic officer of a university or college.

4. principalnoun

   One who directs another (the agent) to act on ones behalf.

   When an attorney represents a client, the client is the principal who permits the attorney, the clients agent, to act on the clients behalf.

5. principalnoun

   The primary participant in a crime.

6. principalnoun

   A company represented by a salesperson.

   My principal sells metal shims.

7. principalnoun

   A partner or owner of a business.

8. principalnoun

   A diapason, a type of organ stop on a pipe organ.

9. principaladjective

   Primary; most important.

10. Etymology: From principalis.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. PRINCIPALadjective

   Etymology: principal, Fr. principalis, Lat.

   1. Princely. A sense found only in Edmund Spenser. A Latinism.

   Suspicion of friend, nor fear of foe,
   That hazarded his health, had he at all;
   But walk’d at will, and wandred to and fro,
   In the pride of his freedom principal. Edmund Spenser.

   2. Chief; of the first rate; capital; essential; important; considerable.

   This later is ordered, partly and as touching principal matters by none but precepts divine only; partly and as concerning things of inferior regard by ordinances, as well human as divine. Richard Hooker, b. v. s. 4.

   Can you remember any of the principal evils, that he laid to the charge of women. William Shakespeare, As You like it.

2. Principalnoun

   Etymology: from the adj.

   1. A head; a chief; not a second.

   Seconds in factions do many times, when the faction sub-divideth, prove principals. Francis Bacon.

   2. One primarily or originally engaged; not an accessary or auxiliary.

   We were not principals, but auxiliaries in the war. Jonathan Swift.

   In judgment, some persons are present as principals, and others only as accessaries. John Ayliffe, Parergon.

   3. A capital sum placed out at interest.

   Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture,
   But touch’d with human gentleness and love,
   Forgive a moiety of the principal. William Shakespeare.

   Taxes must be continued, because we have no other means for paying off the principal. Jonathan Swift, Miscellanies.

   4. The president or governour.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. principal

   Principal has different meanings in different contexts. Overall, it generally refers to a person who has controlling authority or is in a leading position. In finance, it refers to the original sum of money borrowed or invested, excluding any interest or dividends. In education, a principal is the head of a school. In law, it refers to a person who authorizes another to act on their behalf as their agent.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Principaladjective

   highest in rank, authority, character, importance, or degree; most considerable or important; chief; main; as, the principal officers of a Government; the principal men of a state; the principal productions of a country; the principal arguments in a case

2. Principaladjective

   of or pertaining to a prince; princely

3. Principalnoun

   a leader, chief, or head; one who takes the lead; one who acts independently, or who has controlling authority or influence; as, the principal of a faction, a school, a firm, etc.; -- distinguished from a subordinate, abettor, auxiliary, or assistant

4. Principalnoun

   the chief actor in a crime, or an abettor who is present at it, -- as distinguished from an accessory

5. Principalnoun

   a chief obligor, promisor, or debtor, -- as distinguished from a surety

6. Principalnoun

   one who employs another to act for him, -- as distinguished from an agent

7. Principalnoun

   a thing of chief or prime importance; something fundamental or especially conspicuous

8. Principalnoun

   a capital sum of money, placed out at interest, due as a debt or used as a fund; -- so called in distinction from interest or profit

9. Principalnoun

   the construction which gives shape and strength to a roof, -- generally a truss of timber or iron, but there are roofs with stone principals. Also, loosely, the most important member of a piece of framing

10. Principalnoun

    in English organs the chief open metallic stop, an octave above the open diapason. On the manual it is four feet long, on the pedal eight feet. In Germany this term corresponds to the English open diapason

11. Principalnoun

    a heirloom; a mortuary

12. Principalnoun

    the first two long feathers of a hawk's wing

13. Principalnoun

    one of turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and center of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned

14. Principalnoun

    a principal or essential point or rule; a principle

15. Etymology: [F., from L. principalis. See Prince.]

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Principal

   A principal in computer security is an entity that can be authenticated by a computer system or network. It is referred to as a security principal in Java and Microsoft literature. Principals can be individual people, computers, services, computational entities such as processes and threads, or any group of such things. They need to be identified and authenticated before they can be assigned rights and privileges over resources in the network. A principal typically has an associated identifier that allows it to be referenced for identification or assignment of properties and permissions.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Principal

   prin′si-pal, adj. taking the first place: highest in rank, character, or importance: chief.—n. a principal person or thing: a head, as of a school or college: one who takes a leading part: money on which interest is paid: (archit.) a main beam or timber: (law) the person who commits a crime, or one who aids and abets him in doing it: a person for whom another becomes surety, a person who, being sui juris, employs another to do an act which he is competent himself to do: (mus.) an organ-stop: (Shak.) the principal rafter.—n. Principal′ity, supreme power: the territory of a prince or the country which gives title to him: (B.) a prince: (obs.) a power: (pl.) an order of angels, the seventh in the hierarchy of Dionysius.—adv. Prin′cipally.—ns. Prin′cipalness, the state of being principal or chief; Prin′cipalship, position of a principal; Prin′cipate, primary: a principality, esp. the office of the ancient Roman emperors. [L. principalis.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. principal

   A person with the accurate and specific ability, experience, knowledge, skills, qualifications, training and expertise to manage, review and support an education facility, school or college and teachers or tutors where appropriate and their collective responsibilities and objectives.

   The principal of the school was a true leader and managed a united team to deliver for the shared prosperity of everyone.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on April 1, 2020  

2. ---

   principal

   An important element.

   The principal element of the computer is the main memory which has a primary function within the computer.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on April 1, 2020  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Principal

   Principal vs. Principle -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Principal and Principle.

2. Principal

   Principle vs. Principal -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Principle and Principal.

Matched Categories

1. • Actor
   • Capital
   • Criminal Law
   • Debt
   • Wrongdoer

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'principal' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2488

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'principal' in Nouns Frequency: #2743

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'principal' in Adjectives Frequency: #337

How to pronounce principal?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say principal in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of principal in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of principal in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of principal in a Sentence

1. Evelyn Farkas:

   Typically a note-taker will write notes about what the principal says in a fashion that does not embarrass their principal.

2. Erika Wahl:

   I've been trusting Willow Creek principal and superintendent for the last several years to take care of my kids, I'm trusting Willow Creek principal and superintendent now.

3. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence:

   All of Indiana mourns the loss of Principal Susan Jordan, our hearts ache for her family, the school community and for all the children who were fortunate enough to be part of her world. Hoosiers will never forget that Principal Jordan lived the life of a hero and can always be grateful for her service and courage.

4. Principal Sara Davey:

   The academy’s website says nothing below a grade two haircut is allowed for boys, according to Cornwall Live. Principal Sara Davey said the school supports students who want to raise money for charities but said Principal Sara Davey was surprised the Baldwins did n’t approach them before Niamh Baldwin shaved Niamh Baldwin head. Since returning to school Niamh Baldwin has had access to Niamh Baldwin lessons in the inclusion room as we have extensive materials available to students.

5. Kelly Clarkson:

   I’m from the South, y’all, so we get spankings, my mom would call the principal if I ever ended up in the principal’s office and give permission for her to spank me … I’m a well-rounded individual with a lot of character, so I think it’s fine.

Popularity rank by frequency of use