principal

1. adjective

the principal cause of poor air quality

Syn:

main, chief, primary, leading, foremost, first, first-line, most important, predominant, dominant, (most) prominent; key, crucial, vital, essential, basic, prime, central, focal; premier, paramount, major, overriding, cardinal, preeminent, uppermost, highest, top, topmost; informal number-one

Ant:

minor

2. noun

1)

the principal of the firm

Syn:

chief, chief executive (officer), CEO, president, chairman, chairwoman, director, managing director, manager, head; informal boss

2)

the school's principal

Syn:

headmaster, headmistress; dean, rector, chancellor, president, provost

3)

a principal in a soap opera

Syn:

leading actor/actress, leading player/performer/dancer, leading role, lead, star

4)

repayment of the principal

Syn:

capital (sum), debt, loan

••

principal, principle

These two words, though often confused and used incorrectly and interchangeably, share no common definitions. Generally, it's enough to remember that principal (= chief, primary, most important) is usually an adjective and that principle (= a truth, rule, doctrine, or course of action) is virtually always a noun. Although principle is not a verb, we have principled as an adjective. But principal is sometimes a noun — an elliptical form of principal official (Morgan is principal of the elementary school) or principal investment (principal and interest).

Substituting principal for principle is a fairly common blunder — e.g.: "The Ways and Means bill approved today, after more than a month of deliberation and voting, preserves two of the central principals [read principles] put forth by the President: universal coverage and the requirement that employers assume 80 percent of its cost for their workers." (New York Times; July 1, 1994.)

Substituting principle for principal is perhaps even more common — e.g.: "Audio CDs are a principle [read principal] source of material for making music with samples." (Electronic Musician; June 1994.) — BG