n.
Pronunciation: ' prin(t)-s( ə -)p ə l, -s ə -b ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin principalis, from princip-, princeps
Date: 14th century
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
usage see PRINCIPLE
– prin · ci · pal · ly \ -s ə -p( ə -)l ē , -s ə -b ə -l ē , -spl ē \ adverb