prefect

noun

pre·​fect ˈprē-ˌfekt How to pronounce prefect (audio)
1
: any of various high officials or magistrates of differing functions and ranks in ancient Rome
2
: a chief officer or chief magistrate
3
: a student monitor in a usually private school

Examples of prefect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Félix Éboué, from Guadeloupe, the first French prefect of color, was the first to rally to de Gaulle. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 June 2026 Yves Seguy, the regional prefect, told BFM the aircraft plunged vertically to the ground. — Christian Hartmann, USA Today, 28 June 2026 The crash in the town of Tomblaine killed five instructors, five students, and the pilot, said Yves Seguy, the prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department. — CBS News, 28 June 2026 The local prefect, Salvatore Angieri, ordered the cancellation because of concerns over ⁠public order and security, including the potential for protests. — Reuters, NBC news, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for prefect

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praefectus, from past participle of praeficere to place at the head of, from prae- + facere to make — more at do

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prefect was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing prefect

Rhymes for prefect

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Browse Nearby Words

prefatory
prefect
prefect's court
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Cite this Entry

“Prefect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefect. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prefect

noun
pre·​fect ˈprē-ˌfekt How to pronounce prefect (audio)
1
: a high official or judge (as of ancient Rome or France)
2
: a student assistant in some schools

More from Merriam-Webster on prefect

Nglish: Translation of prefect for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prefect

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