The principal reason for my change of mind is this.
...the country's principal source of foreign exchange earnings.
Their principal concern is bound to be that of winning the next general election.
Synonyms: main, leading, chief, prime More Synonyms of principal
2. countable noun
The principal of a school, or in Britain the principal of a college, is the person in charge of the school or college.
Donald King is the principal of Dartmouth High School. [+ of]
More Synonyms of principal
principal in British English
(ˈprɪnsɪpəl)
adjective(prenominal)
1.
first in importance, rank, value, etc; chief
2.
denoting or relating to capital or property as opposed to interest, etc
noun
3.
a person who is first in importance or directs some event, action, organization, etc
4.
(in Britain) a civil servant of an executive grade who is in charge of a section
5. law
a.
a person who engages another to act as his or her agent
b.
an active participant in a crime
c.
the person primarily liable to fulfil an obligation
6.
the head of a school or other educational institution
7.
(in Scottish schools) a head of department
8. finance
a.
capital or property, as contrasted with the income derived from it
b.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
9.
a main roof truss or rafter
10. music
a.
the chief instrumentalist in a section of the orchestra
b.
one of the singers in an opera company
c.
either of two types of open diapason organ stops, one of four-foot length and pitch and the other of eight-foot length and pitch
11.
the leading performer in a play
▶ USAGE See note at principle
Derived forms
principalship (ˈprincipalship)
noun
Word origin
C13: via Old French from Latin principālis chief, from princeps chief man, prince
principal in American English
(ˈprɪnsəpəl)
adjective
1.
first or highest in rank, importance, value, etc.; chief; foremost
2.
of, of the nature of, or constituting principal or capital
a principal investment
3. Geometry(of an axis of a conic)
passing through the foci
noun
4.
a chief or head
5.
the head or director of a school or, esp. in England, a college
6.
a person who takes a leading part in any activity, as a play; chief actor or doer
7.
the first player of a division of instruments in an orchestra (excepting the leader of the first violins)
8.
something of principal or chief importance
9. Law
a.
a person who authorizes another, as an agent, to represent him or her
b.
a person directly responsible for a crime, either as an actual perpetrator or as an abettor present at its commission
Compare "> accessory (sense 3)
10.
a person primarily liable for an obligation, in contrast with an endorser, or thelike
11.
the main body of an estate, or the like, as distinguished from income
12. Finance
a capital sum, as distinguished from interest or profit
13. Music
a.
an organ stop
b.
the subject of a fugue
14. (in a framed structure)
a member, as a truss, upon which adjacent or similar members depend for support or reinforcement
15.
each of the combatants in a duel, as distinguished from the seconds
The noun principle and the noun and adjective principal are often confused. Although pronounced alike, the words are not interchangeablein writing. A principle is broadly “a rule of action or conduct” (His overriding principle is greed) or “a fundamental doctrine or tenet” (Their principles do not permit the use of alcoholic beverages). The adjective principal has the general sense “chief, first, foremost”: My principal objection is the cost of the project. The noun principal has among other meanings “the head or director of a school” (The faculty supported the principal in her negotiations with the board) and “a capital sum, as distinguished from interest or profit” (The monthly payments go mostly for interest, leaving the principal practically untouched).
Derived forms
principalship
noun
Word origin
[1250–1300; ME ‹ L prīncipālis first, chief, equiv. to prīncip- ( see prince) + -ālis-al1]
principal in Finance
(prɪnsɪpəl)
Word forms: (regular plural) principals
noun
(Finance: Banking)
A principal is the amount of money originally borrowed on a loan.
The agreement gives bank creditors three basic options: cutting back interest payments,reducing debt principal, or lending further funds.
Investors have the choice of having not just the principal, but also the dividends cumulatively being converted into shares.
A principal is the amount of money originally borrowed on a loan.
principal in Accounting
(prɪnsɪpəl)
Word forms: (regular plural) principals
noun
(Accounting: Investing)
A principal is the amount of money originally borrowed on a loan.
The agreement gives bank creditors three basic options: cutting back interest payments,reducing debt principal, or lending further funds.
Investors have the choice of having not just the principal, but also the dividends cumulatively being converted into shares.
A principal is the amount of money originally borrowed on a loan.
Examples of 'principal' in a sentence
principal
For him darkness was the principal dramatic agent in a work, and the underlying aim was supernatural.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Few in the crime field have matched her consistently high standard, and she has done so without having to rely mainly on one principal series hero.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He has now told us that he has changed his mind, citing the Brexit vote as the principal reason.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And they shared their concerns with the school principal.
Christianity Today (2000)
She became deputy chief executive and principal legal adviser.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Those seeking to invest in the sector should first establish their principal aim.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are two principal reasons for this.
Yearley, Steven Science, Technology, and Social Change (1988)
It also acts as a principal investor in the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What was the principal debt instrument used?
Mishkin, Frederic S. Financial Markets, Institutions and Money (1995)
These are aimed at those whose principal concern is not waiting for treatment.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He has been suspended by the two schools where he is executive principal.
The Sun (2015)
Her blue pencil seemed to have had two principal concerns.
Paul Preston DOVES OF WAR: Four Women of Spain (2002)
One of the principal reasons is its big push into tablets.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In overseas trade the merchant had acted as a principal all along.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING FOR RESULTS (1986)
It means failing to meet obligations to pay back interest and principal on their debts on time.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The liquidity drought was one of the principal reasons the crisis was quite as bad as it was.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We will want to move around the world which is our home and our principal source of wonder.
Oliver Morton Eating the Sun: How Plants Power the Planet (2007)
Its principal interest is economic theory.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
College principals welcomed the case for extra funding but said this should come from a new financial settlement rather than a levy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We have seen that a company 's principal current asset consists of unpaid bills from other companies.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
And yet for all the similarities, it is the one principal difference that is most telling.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That has been a principal source of the rise in the polls of the Yes campaign.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I would detail your concerns and request an urgent meeting with the college principal.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
After half a term she was called back to Kiev to join their ballet company as a principal dancer.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
For example, the first principal repayment might be delayed for a year pending completion of a new factory.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
In other languages
principal
British English: principal /ˈprɪnsɪpl/ ADJECTIVE
Principal means first in order of importance.
Salt is the principal source of sodium in our diets.
American English: principal
Arabic: أَسَاسِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: principal
Chinese: 主要的
Croatian: glavni
Czech: hlavní
Danish: vigtigst
Dutch: voornaamste
European Spanish: principal
Finnish: tärkein
French: principal plus important
German: hauptsächlich
Greek: κυριότερος
Italian: principale
Japanese: 主な
Korean: 주된
Norwegian: viktigst
Polish: główny zasadniczy
European Portuguese: principal
Romanian: principal
Russian: главный
Latin American Spanish: principal
Swedish: huvud-
Thai: ที่เป็นหลักปฏิบัติ
Turkish: baş tepede
Ukrainian: головний
Vietnamese: chính
British English: principal /ˈprɪnsɪpl/ NOUN
The principal of a school or college is the person in charge of it.
He is the principal of the local high school.
American English: principal
Arabic: مُدِيرُ مَدْرَسَة
Brazilian Portuguese: diretor de colégio
Chinese: 校长
Croatian: ravnatelj
Czech: rektor
Danish: forstander
Dutch: directeur van school
European Spanish: director escuela
Finnish: rehtori
French: chef d’établissement
German: Schulleiter
Greek: διευθυντής σχολείου
Italian: preside
Japanese: 校長
Korean: 교장
Norwegian: rektor
Polish: szef
European Portuguese: diretor de colégio
Romanian: director
Russian: директор
Latin American Spanish: director
Swedish: rektor
Thai: ครูใหญ่
Turkish: müdür
Ukrainian: директор
Vietnamese: hiệu trưởng
All related terms of 'principal'
principal boy
the leading male role in a pantomime , played by a woman
principal axis
the line passing through the optical centre and centres of curvature of the faces of a lens or a curved mirror
principal focus
the point on the axis of a lens or mirror to which parallel rays of light converge or from which they appear to diverge after refraction or reflection
principal parts
the main inflected forms of a verb , from which all other inflections may be deduced . In English they are generally considered to consist of the third person present singular , present participle , past tense , and past participle
vice-principal
a deputy principal in a school, college , etc
principal meridian
a meridian line accurately laid out to serve as the reference meridian in land survey
assistant principal
a person who assists a principal in their work
principal character
The characters in a film, book, or play are the people that it is about.
principal nursing officer
a grade of nurse concerned with administration in the British National Health Service
focal point
The focal point of something is the thing that people concentrate on or pay most attention to.
axis
An axis is an imaginary line through the middle of something.
PITI
PITI is the components of a mortgage payment .
Chinese translation of 'principal'
principal
(ˈprɪnsɪpl)
adj
(= main)[reason, aim]主要的 (zhǔyào de)
(Theat)[role, part, character]主要的 (zhǔyào de)
n
(c) (= head teacher)[of school, college]校长(長) (xiàozhǎng) (位, wèi)
(c) (Theat) 主角 (zhǔjué) (位, wèi)
(s) (Fin, = sum) 资(資)本 (zīběn)
(adjective)
Definition
first in importance, rank, or value
Their principal concern is that of winning the next election.
Synonyms
main
My main concern now is to protect the children.
leading
Britain's future as a leading industrial nation depends on investment.
chief
Financial stress is acknowledged as a chief reason for divorce.
The job went to one of his chief rivals.
prime
Political stability is a prime concern.
first
The first priority for development is to defeat inflation.
highest
controlling
strongest
capital
key
essential
Two essential elements must be proven: motive and opportunity.
primary
His primary aim in life is to be happy.
most important
dominant
She was a dominant figure in the film industry.
arch
cardinal
The cardinal rule is to do everything you can to satisfy the customer.
paramount
The welfare of the children must be of paramount importance.
foremost
He was one of the world's foremost scholars.
pre-eminent
He is the pre-eminent political figure in the country.
Opposites
minor
,
subsidiary
, subordinate,
inferior
,
supplementary
,
auxiliary
1 (noun)
Definition
the head of a school or other educational institution
the principal of the local high school
Synonyms
headmaster or headmistress
head (informal)
full of admiration for the head and teachers
director
dean
dean of the faculty
head teacher
One of the photos must be signed by your head teacher.
rector
master or mistress
2 (noun)
Definition
a person who holds one of the most important positions in an organization
the principal of the company
Synonyms
boss
He cannot stand his boss.
head
heads of government from more than 100 countries
leader
the leader of the Conservative Party
director
He is the director of the unit.
chief (informal)
The new leader is the deputy chief of the territory's defence force.
master
My master ordered me to deliver the message.
ruler
superintendent
superintendent of the bank's East African branches
sherang (Australian, New Zealand)
I am in touch with the head sherang at both sites
3 (noun)
Definition
the leading actor in a play
soloists and principals of The Scottish Ballet orchestra
Synonyms
star
Not all football stars are ill-behaved louts.
lead
Two dancers from the Bolshoi Ballet dance the leads.
leader
prima ballerina
first violin
leading man or lady
coryphée
4 (noun)
Definition
capital or property, as contrasted with income
Use the higher premiums to pay the interest and principal on the debt.
Synonyms
capital
The company is having difficulties in raising capital.
money
A lot of money that you pay goes back to the distributor.
assets
working capital
capital funds
see principle
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cardinal
Definition
fundamentally important
The cardinal rule is to do everything you can to satisfy the customer.
Synonyms
principal,
first,
highest,
greatest,
leading,
important,
chief,
main,
prime,
central,
key,
essential,
primary,
fundamental,
paramount,
foremost,
pre-eminent
in the sense of chief
Financial stress is acknowledged as a chief reason for divorce.The job went to one of his chief rivals.
Synonyms
primary,
highest,
leading,
main,
prime,
capital,
central,
key,
essential,
premier,
supreme,
most important,
outstanding,
principal,
prevailing,
cardinal,
paramount,
big-time (informal),
foremost,
major league (informal),
predominant,
uppermost,
pre-eminent,
especial
in the sense of chief
Definition
most important
The new leader is the deputy chief of the territory's defence force.
Synonyms
head,
leader,
director,
manager,
lord,
boss (informal),
captain,
master,
governor,
commander,
principal,
superior,
ruler,
superintendent,
chieftain,
ringleader,
suzerain,
ariki (New Zealand),
sherang (Australian, New Zealand)
Synonyms of 'principal'
principal
Explore 'principal' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dean
Definition
the chief administrative official of a college or university faculty
dean of the faculty
Synonyms
faculty head,
director,
principal,
provost,
head of department,
department head,
head of faculty
in the sense of director
Definition
a member of the governing board of a business, trust, etc.
He is the director of the unit.
Synonyms
controller,
head,
leader,
manager,
chief,
executive,
chairperson,
boss (informal),
producer,
governor,
principal,
administrator,
supervisor,
organizer,
helmer,
sherang (Australian, New Zealand)
in the sense of dominant
Definition
main or chief
She was a dominant figure in the film industry.
Synonyms
main,
chief,
primary,
outstanding,
principal,
prominent,
influential,
prevailing,
paramount,
prevalent,
predominant,
pre-eminent
in the sense of essential
Definition
basic or fundamental
Two essential elements must be proven: motive and opportunity.
Synonyms
fundamental,
main,
basic,
radical,
key,
principal,
constitutional,
cardinal,
inherent,
elementary,
innate,
hard-wired,
intrinsic,
elemental,
immanent
in the sense of first
Definition
rated, graded, or ranked above all other levels
The first priority for development is to defeat inflation.
Synonyms
foremost,
highest,
greatest,
leading,
head,
ruling,
chief,
prime,
supreme,
principal,
paramount,
overriding,
pre-eminent
in the sense of foremost
Definition
first in time, place, or importance
He was one of the world's foremost scholars.
Synonyms
leading,
best,
first,
top,
highest,
front,
chief,
prime,
primary,
supreme,
initial,
most important,
principal,
paramount,
inaugural,
pre-eminent,
headmost
in the sense of head
full of admiration for the head and teachers
Synonyms
head teacher,
principal,
headmaster or headmistress
in the sense of head
Definition
the person commanding most authority within a group or an organization
heads of government from more than 100 countries
Synonyms
leader,
president,
director,
manager,
chief,
boss (informal),
captain,
master,
premier,
commander,
principal,
supervisor,
superintendent,
chieftain,
sherang (Australian, New Zealand)
in the sense of head teacher
Definition
the principal of a school
One of the photos must be signed by your head teacher.
Synonyms
principal,
head (informal),
headmaster or headmistress,
dean,
rector
in the sense of lead
Definition
the principal role in a play, film, or other production, or the person playing such a role
Two dancers from the Bolshoi Ballet dance the leads.
Synonyms
leading role,
principal,
protagonist,
title role,
star part,
principal part
Additional synonyms
in the sense of leader
Definition
a person who rules, guides, or inspires others
the leader of the Conservative Party
Synonyms
principal,
president,
head,
chief,
boss (informal),
director,
manager,
chairperson,
captain,
chair,
premier,
governor,
commander,
superior,
ruler,
conductor,
controller,
counsellor,
supervisor,
superintendent,
big name,
big gun (informal),
chieftain,
bigwig (informal),
ringleader,
big shot (informal),
overseer,
big cheese (slang, old-fashioned),
big noise (informal),
big hitter (informal),
torchbearer,
number one,
sherang (Australian, New Zealand)
in the sense of leading
Definition
principal or primary
Britain's future as a leading industrial nation depends on investment.
Synonyms
principal,
top,
major,
main,
first,
highest,
greatest,
ruling,
chief,
prime,
key,
primary,
supreme,
most important,
outstanding,
governing,
superior,
dominant,
foremost,
pre-eminent,
unsurpassed,
number one
in the sense of master
Definition
the man who has authority over others, such as the head of a household, the employer of servants, or the owner of slaves or animals
My master ordered me to deliver the message.
Synonyms
lord,
ruler,
commander,
chief,
director,
manager,
boss (informal),
head,
owner,
captain,
governor,
employer,
principal,
skipper (informal),
controller,
superintendent,
overlord,
overseer
in the sense of money
Definition
the official currency, in the form of banknotes or coins, issued by a government
A lot of money that you pay goes back to the distributor.
Synonyms
cash,
funds,
capital,
currency,
wealth,
hard cash,
green (slang),
readies (informal),
riches,
necessary (old-fashioned),
silver,
bread (slang),
coin,
tin (slang),
brass (NorthernEngland, dialect),
loot (informal),
dough (slang),
rhino (British, slang, old-fashioned),
the ready (informal),
banknotes,
dosh (British, Australian, slang),
lolly (British, slang),
the wherewithal,
legal tender,
megabucks (US, Canadian, slang),
needful (informal),
specie,
shekels (informal),
wonga (slang),
dibs (slang),
filthy lucre (facetious),
moolah (slang),
ackers (slang),
gelt (slang, US),
spondulicks (slang, rare),
pelf (archaic),
mazuma (slang, US),
kembla (Australian, slang)
in the sense of paramount
Definition
of the greatest importance
The welfare of the children must be of paramount importance.
Synonyms
principal,
prime,
first,
chief,
main,
capital,
primary,
supreme,
outstanding,
superior,
dominant,
cardinal,
foremost,
eminent,
predominant,
pre-eminent
in the sense of pre-eminent
Definition
outstanding
He is the pre-eminent political figure in the country.
Synonyms
outstanding,
supreme,
paramount,
chief,
excellent,
distinguished,
superior,
renowned,
foremost,
consummate,
predominant,
transcendent,
unrivalled,
incomparable,
peerless,
unsurpassed,
unequalled,
matchless
in the sense of primary
Definition
first in importance
His primary aim in life is to be happy.
Synonyms
chief,
leading,
main,
best,
first,
highest,
greatest,
top,
prime,
capital,
principal,
dominant,
cardinal,
paramount
in the sense of prime
Definition
first in importance
Political stability is a prime concern.
Synonyms
main,
leading,
chief,
central,
major,
ruling,
key,
senior,
primary,
supreme,
principal,
ultimate,
cardinal,
paramount,
overriding,
foremost,
predominant,
pre-eminent,
number-one (informal)
in the sense of sherang
I am in touch with the head sherang at both sites
Synonyms
boss,
manager,
head,
leader,
director,
chief,
executive,
owner,
master,
governor (informal),
employer,
administrator,
supervisor,
superintendent,
gaffer (informal, British),
or woman or person">foreman or woman or person,
overseer,
kingpin,
big cheese (old-fashioned, slang),
numero uno (informal),
Mister Big (slang, US)
in the sense of superintendent
Definition
a person who directs and manages an organization or office
superintendent of the bank's East African branches