principal

¹prin·ci·pal

adj \ˈprin(t)-s(ə-)pəl, -sə-bəl\

Definition of PRINCIPAL

1

: most important, consequential, or influential : chief <the principal ingredient> <the region's principal city>

2

: of, relating to, or constituting principal or a principal(see ²principal)

See Usage Discussion at principle

— prin·ci·pal·ly \-sə-p(ə-)lē, -sə-bə-lē, -splē\ adverb

Examples of PRINCIPAL

1. Vegetables are the principal ingredients in this soup.
2. She is the principal cellist of the orchestra.
3. If any suspect that Griswold was exaggerating, they should reflect on the fact that the principal Supreme Court case justifying the invocation of the national security privilege was based on a governmental lie. —Garry Wills, New York Review of Books, 12 Feb. 2009
4. Following the agreement, the four principal tobacco companies—Philip Morris, R. J. Reynolds, Brown & Williamson, and Lorillard—raised their prices more than 45 cents per pack. The costs of the settlement, as predicted, were passed on to consumers. —Allan M. Brandt, The Cigarette Century, 2007
5. Their principal industry was the manufacture, in a long, low, mostly-wooden, two-story factory, of cold cream. —Frederick Busch, Too Late American Boyhood Blues, 1984

Origin of PRINCIPAL

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin principalis, from princip-, princeps

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PRINCIPAL

Synonyms: arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, foremost, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme

Antonyms: last, least

Related Words: distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior; high-level, senior, top; important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant; incomparable, matchless, unequaled (or unequalled), unparalleled, unsurpassed; celebrated, famed, famous, renowned

Near Antonyms: inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant; collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary

see all synonyms and antonyms

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