Principle is a noun that means “a fundamental belief” or “an idea to live by.”
The understanding is that a person with principles is a person who lives a good life.
Mary’s principles lead her to be honest and selfless.
Dan lives by the principle that those who give to others always will always be happy.
Most sciences are based upon a set of principles.
Newton’s law of motion is one of the basic principles of physics.
Giving prompt feedback is one of the principles of education.
Principal means “the main one” or “the most important.”
The person who runs a school is called the principal because he or she is the main person in charge.
My principal gave a speech to the seniors at graduation.
Sometimes our principal gives out awards for good behavior.
Principal can also refer to a main idea or the main object.
My principal reason for moving is to be closer to family.
The principal language spoken in Barcelona is Catalan.
To keep these two words straight, remember that your school principal is your pal. Since the principal is the main person in the school, principal also means main idea or main object. Principle is the other word, and it means an idea to live by or an idea that supports a certain science.