Accessory vs. Principal — What's the Difference?

A subordinate or supplementary item; an adjunct.

First in order of importance; main

Something nonessential but desirable that contributes to an effect or result.

Denoting an original sum invested or lent

(Law) One who knowingly assists a lawbreaker in the commission of a crime but does not actually participate in that crime.

The most important or senior person in an organization or group

Having a secondary, supplementary, or subordinate function.

A sum of money lent or invested, on which interest is paid

(Law) Involving the knowing assistance of a lawbreaker in the commission of a crime without actual participation in the crime.

A person for whom another acts as an agent or representative

Having a secondary, supplementary or subordinate function by accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; being additional; contributing or being contributory.

The person directly responsible for a crime.

(legal) Assisting a crime without actually participating in committing the crime itself; being connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal.

A main rafter supporting purlins.

Present in a minor amount, and not essential.

An organ stop sounding a main register of open flue pipes typically an octave above the diapason

Something that belongs to part of another main thing; something additional and subordinate, an attachment.

First or highest in rank or importance.

(fashion) An article that completes one's basic outfit, such as a scarf or gloves.

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

(legal) A person who is not present at a crime, but contributes to it as an assistant or instigator.

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

(art) Something in a work of art without being indispensably necessary, for example solely ornamental parts.

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

Accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; additional; connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal; contributing or contributory; said of persons and things, and, when of persons, usually in a bad sense; as, he was accessory to the riot; accessory sounds in music.

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

That which belongs to something else deemed the principal; something additional and subordinate.

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

Anything that enters into a work of art without being indispensably necessary, as mere ornamental parts.

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

Clothing that is worn or carried, but not part of your main clothing

The person on behalf of whom an agent acts.

A supplementary component that improves capability

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

Someone who helps another person commit a crime

The main actor in the perpetration of a crime.

Relating to something that is added but is not essential;

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

Primary; most important; first level in importance.

Of or relating to a prince; princely.

(mathematics) Chosen or assumed among a branch of possible values of a multi-valued function so that the function is single-valued.

The money originally invested or loaned, on which basis interest and returns are calculated.

The chief administrator of a school.

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

(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.

(legal) The primary participant in a crime.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

(computing) A security 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.

Of or pertaining to a prince; princely.

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.

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

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

The original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated

The educator who has executive authority for a school;

An actor who plays a principal role

Capital as contrasted with the income derived from it

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

Most important element;