headmaster
Americannoun
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.
Vocabulary lists containing headmaster
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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
She approached the headmaster at her conservatory who placed her in a string ensemble before advancing her to the symphony orchestra as a violinist.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 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
The headmaster at the time noticed his natural talent and eventually encouraged him to devote more of his energy to developing that gift.
From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2025
I e-mailed the headmaster of Saint Augustine’s yesterday.
From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy
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
“This program helps to meet the need for trained headmasters by providing administrative training as part of the offered coursework.”
From Washington Times ● Apr. 13, 2022
He warned the situation could arise where two schools in the same town "could have different policies developed by headmasters with a particular view".
From BBC ● Jan. 29, 2022
For several minutes, he sat and watched the old headmasters and headmistresses snoozing in their frames, thinking about what he had just heard, and running his fingers over his scar.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
Definitions 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.
