principal > define

noun

• The original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated.
• The educator who has executive authority for a school.
  • usage: "she sent unruly pupils to see the principal"
  • synonyms: school principal, head teacher, head
• An actor who plays a principal role.
  • synonyms: star, lead
• Capital as contrasted with the income derived from it.
  • synonyms: corpus, principal sum
• Criminal law. ( any person involved in a criminal offense, regardless of whether the person profits from such involvement)
• The major party to a financial transaction at a stock exchange; buys and sells for his own account.
  • synonyms: dealer

adjective

• Most important element.
  • usage: "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch"
  • synonyms: chief, main, primary, master

• (n.) One of turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and center of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned.
• (n.) In English organs the chief open metallic stop, an octave above the open diapason. On the manual it is four feet long, on the pedal eight feet. In Germany this term corresponds to the English open diapason.
• (n.) The construction which gives shape and strength to a roof, -- generally a truss of timber or iron, but there are roofs with stone principals. Also, loosely, the most important member of a piece of framing.
• (n.) A thing of chief or prime importance; something fundamental or especially conspicuous.
• (n.) A leader, chief or head; one who takes the lead; one who acts independently or who has controlling authority or influence; as, the principal of a faction, a school, a firm, etc.; -- distinguished from a subordinate, abettor, auxiliary or assistant.
• (a.) Of or pertaining to a prince; princely.
• (n.) One who employs another to act for him, -- as distinguished from an agent.
• (n.) A capital sum of money, placed out at interest, due as a debt or used as a fund; -- so called in distinction from interest or profit.
• (n.) A heirloom; a mortuary.
• (n.) The chief actor in a crime or an abettor who is present at it, -- as distinguished from an accessory.
• (n.) A chief obligor, promisor or debtor, -- as distinguished from a surety.
• (a.) Highest in rank, authority, character, importance or degree; most considerable or important; chief; main; as, the principal officers of a Government; the principal men of a state; the principal productions of a country; the principal arguments in a case.
• (n.) A principal or essential point or rule; a principle.
• (n.) The first two long feathers of a hawk's wing.

1. One of the main parties to a transaction. For example, the buyer and seller are' principal's in the purchase of real property. 2. In a fiduciary relationship, the person who hires a real estate broker to represent him or her in the sale of property. The phrase, "principals only" often found in real estate ads, is meant to exclude real estate agents from contacting the owners of the property. (See fiduciary).