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Definitions

principally

[prin-suh-puh-lee, -sip-lee] / ˈprɪn sə pə li, -sɪp li /
ADVERB
mainly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
basically chiefly first and foremost generally importantly largely mostly notably particularly predominantly
STRONG
primarily
WEAK
above all before anything else cardinally dominantly eminently especially essentially first of all for the most part fundamentally in the first place in the main materially peculiarly preeminently prevailingly prevalently substantially superlatively supremely to a great degree universally vitally
Antonyms
WEAK
secondarily trivially

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But for Wada Waziri, it is not principally a religious conflict.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

Commodities analysts at JPMorgan bank said in a report released Monday that most of the oil passing through the strait was headed for Asia, principally China.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

This came after Patel’s team assured the press that he was principally in Milan for a variety of very important national security meetings.

From Slate • Feb. 28, 2026

But both leaders were principally ousted by domestic forces after bringing their countries to crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

Parkhurst, I’ve mentioned, seemed to have been principally interested in history and religion.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.