noun

principal

/ˈprɪnsəpəl/ · say it: PRIN·suh·puhl

the original amount of a loan, excluding interest

In Banking & Finance

In more detail

1. (noun) the person in charge of a school

2. (noun) the main amount of money lent or borrowed, not including interest

3. (adjective) most important; main

Examples

1. The principal called an assembly for all students.
2. You must pay back both the principal and the interest on your loan.
3. The principal reason for the project's failure was poor planning.

How to use principal

As a noun referring to school leadership, it is standard in American English and common in other varieties. As an adjective, it means 'most important' or 'primary' and is used in both formal and general contexts, especially in finance, law, and academic writing. The noun form relating to money is primarily used in financial and legal contexts.

Common phrases

principal of a school
principal amount
principal reason
principal character
principal investigator

Synonyms

head · director · chief · main · primary

Opposites

subordinate · secondary · minor

Word family

principally (adverb) · principle (noun - different word)

A common mistake

Learners often confuse principal (meaning main or a school leader) with principle (meaning a fundamental rule or belief); these are distinct words with different meanings and pronunciations.

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