Principal vs. Principle: What's the Difference?
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Published on November 8, 2023
"Principal" refers to a chief person or amount, while "Principle" denotes a fundamental truth or belief.
Key Differences
"Principal" is primarily used as a noun, but can also be an adjective. As a noun, it often denotes the head of an educational institution or a sum of money that was originally invested, excluding any interest. For instance, a school principal oversees educational activities, whereas a loan's principal is the initial amount borrowed before interest accrues.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
"Principle," exclusively a noun, designates a basic truth, rule, or standard governing behavior or the functioning of something. This could range from ethical beliefs to scientific laws. For instance, one might live by the principle of honesty or study the principles underlying physics.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
It's essential not to confuse these terms based on their phonetic similarities. While "Principal" is about precedence, leadership, or primary importance, "Principle" revolves around foundational concepts, doctrines, or values. If you're discussing ethics or basic truths, "Principle" is apt. But if you're referencing leadership roles or primary sums of money, "Principal" is the correct choice.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
A mnemonic often employed to differentiate the two is: "The school principal is your 'pal.'" This can serve as a quick reminder that "Principal," with an "a," is associated with a person, whereas "Principle" is associated with a standard or belief.
Sara Rehman
Nov 08, 2023
Despite their differences, both words serve crucial roles in language, conveying distinct meanings. Accurate usage ensures clarity in communication, especially in contexts like education, finance, ethics, and science.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Usage
"School principal" or "principal amount"
"Moral principle" or "scientific principle"
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Mnemonic
The school principal is your "pal."
Principles are fundamental truths.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 08, 2023
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Principal and Principle Definitions
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Principal
Of, relating to, or being financial principal, or a principal in a financial transaction.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
The collectivity of moral or ethical standards or judgments
A decision based on principle rather than expediency.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
One who holds a position of presiding rank, especially the head of an elementary school, middle school, or high school.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
A main participant in a situation, especially a financial transaction.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A basic or essential quality or element determining intrinsic nature or characteristic behavior
The principle of self-preservation.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
A person having a leading or starring role in a performance, such as the first player in a section of an orchestra.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A rule or law concerning the functioning of natural phenomena or mechanical processes
The principle of jet propulsion.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
An amount of capital originally borrowed or invested, as opposed to the interest paid or accruing on it.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
(Chemistry) One of the elements that compose a substance, especially one that gives some special quality or effect.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
The most significant part of an estate, as opposed to minor or incidental components.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A fundamental assumption or guiding belief.
We need some sort of principles to reason from.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
The person having prime responsibility for an obligation as distinguished from one who acts as surety or as an endorser.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A rule used to choose among solutions to a problem.
The principle of least privilege holds that a process should only receive the permissions it needs.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
Moral rule or aspect.
I don't doubt your principles.
You are clearly a person of principle.
It's the principle of the thing; I won't do business with someone I can't trust.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
(Architecture) Either of a pair of inclined timbers forming the sides of a triangular truss for a pitched roof.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
(physics) A rule or law of nature, or the basic idea on how the laws of nature are applied.
Bernoulli's Principle
The Pauli Exclusion Principle prevents two fermions from occupying the same state.
The principle of the internal combustion engine
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A fundamental essence, particularly one producing a given quality.
Many believe that life is the result of some vital principle.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
The chief executive and chief academic officer of a university or college.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
(transitive) To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet or rule of conduct.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.
The soul of man is an active principle.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
An original faculty or endowment.
Nature in your principles hath set [benignity].
Those active principles whose direct and ultimate object is the communication either of enjoyment or suffering.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A fundamental truth; a comprehensive law or doctrine, from which others are derived, or on which others are founded; a general truth; an elementary proposition; a maxim; an axiom; a postulate.
Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.
A good principle, not rightly understood, may prove as hurtful as a bad.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A settled rule of action; a governing law of conduct; an opinion or belief which exercises a directing influence on the life and behavior; a rule (usually, a right rule) of conduct consistently directing one's actions; as, a person of no principle.
All kinds of dishonesty destroy our pretenses to an honest principle of mind.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
Any original inherent constituent which characterizes a substance, or gives it its essential properties, and which can usually be separated by analysis; - applied especially to drugs, plant extracts, etc.
Cathartine is the bitter, purgative principle of senna.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
One of the turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and centre of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet, or rule of conduct, good or ill.
Governors should be well principled.
Let an enthusiast be principled that he or his teacher is inspired.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct;
Their principles of composition characterized all their works
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
A dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A rule or standard especially of good behavior;
A man of principle
He will not violate his principles
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
A rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system;
The principle of the conservation of mass
The principle of jet propulsion
The right-hand rule for inductive fields
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principle
(law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature);
The rationale for capital punishment
The principles of internal-combustion engines
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
The chief actor in a crime, or an abettor who is present at it, - as distinguished from an accessory.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
A thing of chief or prime importance; something fundamental or especially conspicuous.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
The educator who has executive authority for a school;
She sent unruly pupils to see the principal
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
Principal
The major party to a financial transaction at a stock exchange; buys and sells for his own account
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
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
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 13, 2023
FAQs
Can a "Principle" change?
Principles are typically steadfast, but personal beliefs can evolve.
Harlon Moss
Nov 08, 2023
Can both terms refer to something primary?
Yes, but "Principal" often means chief/main, while "Principle" means foundational truth.
Harlon Moss
Nov 08, 2023
Can there be multiple school principals?
Yes, larger institutions may have multiple principals or vice-principals.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 08, 2023
How can I remember the difference?
Recall the mnemonic: the school principal is your "pal."
Aimie Carlson
Nov 08, 2023
Can a city's main street be called "Principal Street"?
Yes, "Principal" can denote the main or chief.
Aimie Carlson
Nov 08, 2023
Can businesses have principles?
Yes, often referred to as their core values or guiding beliefs.
Janet White
Nov 08, 2023
Can principles be personal?
Absolutely, individuals often have their own guiding beliefs or principles.
Harlon Moss
Nov 08, 2023
Is "Principal" always about leadership?
Not always; it can also mean main or primary.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Can "Principal" relate to roles outside schools?
Yes, it can denote leading figures in various fields.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Is the principal amount the same as total repayable?
No, it excludes interest or additional fees.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Is a school's "Principal" always an educator?
Typically, but they primarily focus on administrative tasks.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Do all sciences have principles?
Yes, foundational truths or laws are present in every scientific field.
Janet White
Nov 08, 2023
Are principles always ethical?
No, they can be scientific, ethical, or general truths.
Sawaira Riaz
Nov 08, 2023
Are principles universally agreed upon?
Not always; they can vary across cultures or individuals.
Janet White
Nov 08, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
