Principal may refer to:
Title or rank Principal (academia), the chief executive of a university Principal (education), the head of a school
Principal (civil service) or principal officer, the senior management level in the UK Civil Service Principal dancer, the top rank in ballet Principal (music), the top rank in an orchestra
Law Principal (commercial law), the person who authorizes an agent Principal (architecture), licensed professional(s) with ownership of the firm Principal (criminal law), the primary actor in a criminal offense Principal (Catholic Church), an honorific used in the See of Lisbon
Places Principal, Cape Verde, a village Principal, Ecuador, a parish
Media The Principal (TV series), a 2015 Australian drama series The Principal, a 1987 action film Principal (music), the lead musician in a section of an orchestra Principal photography, the first phase of movie production "Principal", a song by Cardi B featuring Janet Jackson from the album Am I the Drama? "The Principal", a song by Melanie Martinez from the album K-12 The Principal (Vice Principals), an episode of the American TV series Vice Principals
Finance Principal (finance) or principal sum, the original amount of a debt or investment on which interest is calculated Principal (bond), the face value of a bond Principal Financial Group, a life insurance company
Other uses Principal (computer security), an entity that can be identified and verified Principal or diapason, one of the flue pipes on a pipe organ Principal or diapason, a corresponding organ stop on a pipe organ Victoria Principal (born 1950), American actress
See also Principle (disambiguation), easily confused word