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Definitions

principal

[prin-suh-puhl] / ˈprɪn sə pəl /
ADJECTIVE
most important
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dominant key leading main major outstanding paramount predominant preeminent primary prime prominent
STRONG
arch capital cardinal champion chief essential first head maximum premier sovereign star superior
WEAK
controlling crowning foremost greatest highest incomparable mainline matchless peerless prevailing second to none stellar strongest supereminent supreme transcendent unapproachable unequaled unparalleled unrivaled
Antonyms
STRONGEST
inconspicuous inessential inferior insignificant last lesser minor nonessential ordinary secondary subordinate trivial unimportant unknown
STRONG
auxiliary least lower poor
WEAK
extra
NOUN
person in charge of organization, often an educational one
Synonyms
STRONGEST
administrator boss chief dean director superintendent
STRONG
exec head lead leader preceptor protagonist rector ruler star
WEAK
key player
Antonyms
STRONGEST
employee worker
STRONG
commoner follower
WEAK
interest
NOUN
original amount of property either owned or owed
Synonyms
STRONG
assets capital money
WEAK
capital funds
Antonyms
WEAK
interest

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.

Easter, the principal holiday of the Christian church, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

A return to Formula 1 will be difficult for former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner because he has "broken quite a lot of glass", says ex-Mercedes rival Toto Wolff.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

A video clip featured in the “Addictive Ballet” episode shows New York City Ballet principal dancer Ashley Bouder launching herself into a jeté so high she seems to leave Earth’s gravity.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Musk, OpenAI’s then principal financial supporter, had asked Brockman and Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever to make a spreadsheet listing every employee and what important contribution they had made—a classically Muskian precursor to staff cuts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

I squeaked when the principal sat down again.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney

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