Meaning & use
principal
Most important, main, or first in rank among several things or people.
See it in a sentence
The principal reason for the delay was a shortage of materials.
Rice is the principal crop grown throughout much of Southeast Asia.
A note on using this word
Principal is often confused with principle: principal relates to importance, a school administrator, or a loan amount, while principle means a rule or belief.
Words with a similar meaning
mainchief
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
The head of a school, or the original sum of money borrowed or invested before interest.
After ten years, she had paid off the principal but still owed some interest.
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