principal

²prin·ci·pal

noun \ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəl, -sə-bəl\

Definition of PRINCIPAL

1

: a person who has controlling authority or is in a leading position: as a : a chief or head man or woman b : the chief executive officer of an educational institution c : one who engages another to act as an agent subject to general control and instruction; specifically : the person from whom an agent's authority derives d : the chief or an actual participant in a crime e : the person primarily or ultimately liable on a legal obligation f : a leading performer : star

2

: a matter or thing of primary importance: as a (1) : a capital sum earning interest, due as a debt, or used as a fund (2) : the corpus of an estate, portion, devise, or bequest b : the construction that gives shape and strength to a roof and is usually one of several trusses; broadly : the most important member of a piece of framing

See Usage Discussion at principle

— prin·ci·pal·ship \ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəl-ˌship, -sə-bəl-\ noun

Examples of PRINCIPAL

1. the new high school principal
2. One of the principals in the assassination plot has been arrested.

Origin of PRINCIPAL

(see ¹principal)

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PRINCIPAL

Synonyms: headliner, lead, star

Related Words: leading lady, leading man; superstar; ingenue (or ingénue), starlet; star turn [chiefly British]; coprincipal, costar

Near Antonyms: extra, supernumerary

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Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis