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Definition of principal adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

principal

adjective
 
 
/ˈprɪnsəpl/
 
/ˈprɪnsəpl/
[only before noun]
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  1. most important; main
    • The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
    • New roads will link the principal cities of the area.
    • Tourist revenue is now our principal source of wealth.
    • My principal concern is to get the job done fast.
    • The violins have the principal tune.
    Homophones principal | principleprincipal   principle
     
    /ˈprɪnsəpl/
     
    /ˈprɪnsəpl/
    • principal adjective
      • They were joined on stage by their principal conductor.
    • principal noun
      • The college is excited to announce the appointment of a new principal.
    • principle noun
      • I'm opposed to the death penalty on principle.
    Synonyms mainmainmajor ▪ key ▪ central ▪ principal ▪ chief ▪ primeThese words all describe somebody/​something that is the largest or most important of its kind.main [only before noun] largest or most important:
    • Be careful crossing the main road.
    • The main thing is to remain calm.
    major [usually before noun] very large or important:
    • He played a major role in setting up the system.
    When major is used with the or my/​your/​his/​her/​our/​their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm.     key [usually before noun] most important; essential:
    • He was a key figure in the campaign.
    Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point.     central (rather formal) most important:
    • The central issue is that of widespread racism.
    Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else.     principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
    • The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.
    Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/​central issue here is…     chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:
    • Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty.
    prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first:
    • My prime concern is to protect my property.
    Patterns
    • a/​the main/​major/​key/​central/​principal/​chief/​prime aim/​concern
    • a/​the main/​major/​principal road/​town/​city
    • the main/​key thing is to…
    • to be of major/​key/​central/​prime importance
    Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin principalis ‘first, original’, from princeps, princip- ‘first, chief’.
See principal in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee principal in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: principal

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