headmaster
Americannoun
-
headmasters
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of headmaster
Explanation
A headmaster is the principal of a private school. Your prep school headmaster might have also taught your favorite English class. The head of a school, especially if the school is in Britain or is private or a boarding school, is called a headmaster. The headmaster is often in charge of discipline as well as the running of the school. It's common these days to use the term head teacher rather than headmaster, since it includes both male and female principals. The word headmaster has been around since the 1570's.
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The rest comes from supporters, including companies, said headmaster Stuart Worden.
From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 2026
Christian San José, headmaster at Wycliffe College based in Stonehouse, said the school is "in a position to be able to offer places in all year groups" to Rendcomb pupils.
From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026
Founders’ headmaster Jason Caros rejects the allegation of “Christian nationalism” but argues that there is much to be said for those traditional values, pedagogy and curriculum.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
Collins, born in 1940, was raised near Liverpool by a schoolteacher mother and a headmaster father.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2025
“Our headmaster is taking a short break,” said Professor McGonagall, pointing at the Snape-shaped hole in the window.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
She said headmasters at schools that received the meals from the same kitchen should monitor their pupils.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2025
Her portrait subjects have ranged from members of Congress to headmasters to historical figures.
From New York Times ● Sep. 7, 2022
"You got to know his headmasters and his teachers very well because you were always getting phone calls to come and explain," his father laughs.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2022
“One of the greatest challenges that classical Christian schools and classical charter schools face today is finding qualified headmasters and administrators,” said David Diener, former Hillsdale Academy headmaster and education lecturing professor.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 13, 2022
Harry suddenly noticed that every single one of the old headmasters and headmistresses in the portraits around the walls was awake and listening in on their conversation.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
