principals

Principals is the plural form of principal, a term with several distinct meanings across different fields. The most common senses refer to leadership roles; in other contexts it denotes a financial sum or a person authorized to act on another's behalf. The word is often confused with principle, which denotes a rule or belief.

In education, a principal is the administrator in charge of a school, responsible for overall leadership, policy implementation, and the management of staff and students.

In law and business, a principal is the person or organization that authorizes an agent to act on their behalf. The agent’s actions bind the principal in contracts and transactions, creating an agency relationship. In some jurisdictions, the term principal may also refer to a person who participates in the commission of a crime, in contrast to accomplices or accessories, depending on the legal framework.

In finance, the principal is the original amount of money borrowed or invested, excluding interest. This amount is what remains to be repaid or recovered over the term of a loan or investment, aside from earnings, fees, or interest.

In the performing arts and entertainment industries, principals are the leading performers or actors in a production, as opposed to the supporting cast or extras. The term can also describe the primary or most important participants in a given project or organization.

Note that principal is often confused with principle; principal refers to a person, amount, or leading position, while principle means a rule, standard, or belief. The plural form principals reflects the same range of meanings in appropriate contexts.