principal

Definitions from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Adjective 1.2.1 Usage notes 1.2.2 Translations 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Translations 1.4 See also 2 French 2.1 Adjective 2.1.1 Derived terms 3 Romanian 3.1 Etymology 3.2 Adjective 3.2.1 Declension 3.2.2 Synonyms 3.2.3 Antonyms 4 Spanish 4.1 Adjective 4.2 Noun 4.2.1 Related terms

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Adjective

principal (comparative more principal, superlative most principal)

1. Primary; most important in a group.

   Smith is the principal architect of this design.

   The principal cause of the failure was poor planning.

[edit] Usage notes

• Not to be confused with principle.

This is generally not used in the comparative or superlative in formal writing, as the meaning is already superlative. However, one may occasionally see, e.g., more principal meaning more likely to be principal or more nearly principal. There are similar issues with unique.

The confused may care to remember that 'The principal alphabetic principle places A before E' as a reminder of the relative spelling.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

principal (countable and uncountable; plural principals)

1. (finance, uncountable) 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. (North America, Australia) The principal administrator of a school.

   Now you're in trouble! You're going to see the principal for that.

3. A company you represent in as a sales person.

   One of my principals sells metal shims. I can get those for you.

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• headmaster
• PITI payment
• principle

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[edit] French

[edit] Adjective

principal m. (f. principale, m. plural principaux, f. plural principales)

1. main; principal

[edit] Derived terms

• plat principal
• principalement

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[edit] Romanian

[edit] Etymology

French principal, Latin principalis

[edit] Adjective

principal ^{4 nom/acc forms}

1. principal, primary, chief, foremost

[edit] Declension

[edit] Synonyms

• central

[edit] Antonyms

• secundar

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[edit] Spanish

[edit] Adjective

principal m. and f. (plural principales)

1. main, most important
2. essential

[edit] Noun

principal m. (plural principales)

1. chief, boss

[edit] Related terms

• principio
• principe