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Principal vs. Administrator: What's the Difference?

Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 20, 2023
Principal vs. Administrator: A "Principal" specifically leads a school, while an "Administrator" manages or oversees operations across various fields.

Key Differences

A "Principal" typically refers to the head of a school or educational institution. In this context, the role emphasizes academic leadership and student welfare. An "Administrator," on the other hand, is a general term for someone who manages or oversees certain operations, which can be in education, business, or other fields.
While every "Principal" can be an "Administrator" given their managerial responsibilities in schools, not every "Administrator" is a "Principal." This is because the term "Administrator" spans a broader range of roles and sectors beyond just education.
A school "Principal" often interacts directly with students, parents, and teachers, guiding educational policies and ensuring a conducive learning environment. An "Administrator," depending on the context, may not have such direct interactions and might focus more on system, procedure, or resource management.
In a school setting, a "Principal" holds a more specific role with clearly defined duties revolving around education. "Administrators" in schools, such as superintendents or district officials, might have a wider remit, overseeing multiple schools or particular departments.
Outside the educational sector, the word "Administrator" takes on broader meanings. For instance, in business, an "Administrator" might manage IT systems, human resources, or finances. In contrast, the term "Principal" outside of education often refers to a person of importance or a primary participant in a particular context.
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Comparison Chart

Primary Sector

Education
Various (education, business, healthcare, etc.)

Role Specificity

Specific to head of school or institution
Broad term for overseeing operations

Interaction

Often with students, parents, teachers
Varies; can be system or resource-focused

Scope

School-centric
Can oversee departments, multiple institutions, or systems

Usage outside Education

Refers to primary participants or people of importance in other sectors
General management in various fields
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Principal and Administrator Definitions

Principal

The head or leader of a school.
Mrs. Johnson is the new Principal of our high school.

Administrator

An official in a government or organizational hierarchy.
She worked as an Administrator in the local council.

Principal

A sum of money lent or invested.
The principal amount does not include the interest.

Administrator

A person appointed to manage an estate or property.
An Administrator was assigned to handle the deceased's assets.

Principal

A person who plays a leading role in an organization or activity.
She was the principal performer at the event.

Administrator

A person overseeing specific programs or departments.
He's the Administrator of the arts and culture program.

Principal

Representing originality or primary importance.
The principal concern is the safety of the residents.

Administrator

A person in charge of a business's computer systems.
The IT Administrator resolved the technical glitch.

Principal

First or highest in rank or importance.

Administrator

One who administers, especially one who works as a manager in a business, government agency, or school.

Principal

Of, relating to, or being financial principal, or a principal in a financial transaction.

Administrator

(Law) One appointed to administer an estate.

Principal

One who holds a position of presiding rank, especially the head of an elementary school, middle school, or high school.

Administrator

One who administers affairs; one who directs, manages, executes, or dispenses, whether in civil, judicial, political, or ecclesiastical affairs; a manager

Principal

A main participant in a situation, especially a financial transaction.

Administrator

(legal) A person who manages or settles the estate of an intestate, or of a testator when there is no competent executor; one to whom the right of administration has been committed by competent authority

Principal

A person having a leading or starring role in a performance, such as the first player in a section of an orchestra.

Administrator

(computing) One who is responsible for software installation, management, information and maintenance of a computer or network

Principal

An amount of capital originally borrowed or invested, as opposed to the interest paid or accruing on it.

Administrator

One who administers affairs; one who directs, manages, executes, or dispenses, whether in civil, judicial, political, or ecclesiastical affairs; a manager.

Principal

The most significant part of an estate, as opposed to minor or incidental components.

Administrator

A man who manages or settles the estate of an intestate, or of a testator when there is no competent executor; one to whom the right of administration has been committed by competent authority.

Principal

The person on behalf of whom an agent acts.

Administrator

Someone who administers a business

Principal

The person having prime responsibility for an obligation as distinguished from one who acts as surety or as an endorser.

Administrator

The party appointed by a probate court to distribute the estate of someone who dies without a will or without naming an executor

Principal

The main actor in the perpetration of a crime.

Administrator

Someone who manages a government agency or department

Principal

(Architecture) Either of a pair of inclined timbers forming the sides of a triangular truss for a pitched roof.

Administrator

A person responsible for managing or overseeing operations.
He was hired as the new Administrator of the healthcare facility.

Principal

Primary; most important; first level in importance.
Smith is the principal architect of this design.
The principal cause of the failure was poor planning.

Principal

Of or relating to a prince; princely.

Principal

(mathematics) Chosen or assumed among a branch of possible values of a multi-valued function so that the function is single-valued.
Two is the principal square root of 4. Both −2 and +2 are square roots of 4.

Principal

The money originally invested or loaned, on which basis interest and returns are calculated.
A portion of your mortgage payment goes to reduce the principal, and the rest covers interest.

Principal

The chief administrator of a school.

Principal

The chief executive and chief academic officer of a university or college.

Principal

(legal) A legal person that authorizes another (the agent) to act on their behalf; or on whose behalf an agent or gestor in a negotiorum gestio acts.
When an attorney represents a client, the client is the principal who permits the attorney, the client′s agent, to act on the client′s behalf.
My principal sells metal shims.

Principal

(legal) The primary participant in a crime.

Principal

(North America) A partner or owner of a business.

Principal

(music) A diapason, a type of organ stop on a pipe organ.

Principal

The construction that gives shape and strength to a roof, generally a truss of timber or iron; or, loosely, the most important member of a piece of framing.

Principal

The first two long feathers of a hawk's wing.

Principal

One of the turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and centre of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned

Principal

(obsolete) An essential point or rule; a principle.

Principal

A dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company.

Principal

(computing) A security principal.

Principal

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.
Wisdom is the principal thing.

Principal

Of or pertaining to a prince; princely.

Principal

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.

Principal

The chief actor in a crime, or an abettor who is present at it, - as distinguished from an accessory.

Principal

A thing of chief or prime importance; something fundamental or especially conspicuous.

Principal

The original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated

Principal

The educator who has executive authority for a school;
She sent unruly pupils to see the principal

Principal

An actor who plays a principal role

Principal

Capital as contrasted with the income derived from it

Principal

The major party to a financial transaction at a stock exchange; buys and sells for his own account

Principal

Most important element;
The chief aim of living
The main doors were of solid glass
The principal rivers of America
The principal example
Policemen were primary targets

Principal

A chief or main participant in a situation.
He was the principal reason we won the game.

FAQs

Are "Principal" and "Administrator" interchangeable terms?

While a Principal is an Administrator in the educational context, not every Administrator is a Principal. Their usage depends on context.

Is an IT Administrator the same as a school Principal?

No, an IT Administrator manages computer systems, while a school Principal leads an educational institution.

Can a Principal be considered an Administrator?

Yes, in the context of schools, a Principal manages and oversees operations, making them an Administrator.

How does a Principal differ from a school superintendent?

While both are Administrators, a Principal leads a specific school, whereas a superintendent oversees multiple schools in a district.

Are the roles of Principal and Administrator in schools hierarchical?

It can be. In larger educational systems, Principals might report to higher-level Administrators like district officials.

Can "Principal" refer to primary participants in non-educational contexts?

Yes, for instance, in a business deal, the main parties involved can be called "Principals."

Do Administrators only work in schools?

No, Administrators work across various sectors, managing and overseeing operations, systems, or resources.

Can "Principal" denote priority or importance?

Yes, it can refer to someone or something of primary importance or relevance.

Can "Principal" refer to financial terms?

Yes, "Principal" can denote the main amount of money lent or invested, excluding interest.

Do all educational institutions have Principals?

Most have a leading figure, but the title may vary, such as "Dean" for colleges or "Headmaster" for some schools.

How are Principals and Administrators appointed?

Procedures vary, but often involve interviews, assessments, and evaluations of qualifications and experience.

Can "Administrator" refer to someone managing an estate?

Yes, in legal terms, an Administrator can manage a deceased person's estate if there's no will.

Does a Principal directly interact with students?

Typically, yes. Principals interact with students, parents, and staff to ensure a conducive learning environment.
About Author
Written by
Janet White
Janet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie Carlson
Aimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.

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