- (British English, Canadian English) the person who is in charge of a college or (in Scotland and Canada) a university
- Peter Brown, principal of St John’s College
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.
Extra ExamplesTopics Educationc1, Jobsc1- She was appointed as the first principal of Cambridge Training College.
- The college principal says he's pleased with this year's results.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- college
- school
- elementary-school
- …
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- (North American English) (British English head teacher)a teacher who is in charge of a school
- Principal Ray Smith
- The regulations have been opposed by local high school principals.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- college
- school
- elementary-school
- …
- [usually singular] (finance) an amount of money that you lend to somebody or invest to earn interest
- The principal must be repaid in full within ten years.
- the person who has the most important part in a play, an opera, etc.
- The performance of the two principals is disappointing.
- (specialist) a person that you are representing, especially in business or law
- The shareholders are principals and the managers are agents.
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin principalis ‘first, original’, from princeps, princip- ‘first, chief’.
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principal