In an agency relationship, who is the "principal"?

In an agency relationship, the "principal" is defined as the person or entity who grants authority to another individual, known as the agent, to act on their behalf. This relationship is foundational in various legal contexts, as it outlines the delegation of authority where the principal relies on the agent to perform certain tasks or make decisions that affect the principal's interests.

The agency relationship is characterized by trust and the expectation that the agent will act in the best interest of the principal. The principal retains the ultimate control and thus the responsibility for the acts performed by the agent within the scope of the authority granted. This definition is fundamental in understanding how agencies operate in legal, business, and personal contexts, making the identification of the principal critical to grasping the dynamics of agency law.