noun

headmistress

principal

The headmistress praised the students for their work.

The principal praised the students for their work.

((the/a)) headmistress a female head teacher of a school The headmistress is very kind.

Synonyms: principal, headteacher

From 'head' (leader) and 'mistress' (female teacher). The head or chief female teacher of a school. In the US, 'principal' is more common.

This is the female equivalent of 'headmaster', more common in British English. The '-ess' suffix denotes a female.

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