prefecture

noun

pre·​fec·​ture ˈprē-ˌfek-chər How to pronounce prefecture (audio)
1
: the office or term of office of a prefect
2
: the official residence of a prefect
3
: the district governed by a prefect
prefectural
ˈprē-ˌfek-chə-rəl How to pronounce prefecture (audio)
pri-ˈfek-
adjective

Examples of prefecture 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.
Protests were banned in several cities, including Lyon and Marseille, while in Paris, the route of the main demonstration organized by the CGT union was changed at the last moment, with the police prefecture citing the need to protect retailers. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026 Japan Meteorological Agency issued heatstroke warning alerts for 41 prefectures. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026 Ballard, who was named on Sunday by the Japanese media, was arrested on Sunday after the woman's body was found early on Saturday in Naha, the capital city of the Okinawa prefecture. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 So when Ehime prefecture in the country’s southwest proudly unveiled the Beni Princess last year, orchardists saw opportunity. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prefecture

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prefecture was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing prefecture

Rhymes for prefecture

See All Rhymes for prefecture

Browse Nearby Words

prefectural
prefecture
prefecture apostolic
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Cite this Entry

“Prefecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefecture. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prefecture

noun
pre·​fec·​ture ˈprē-ˌfek-chər How to pronounce prefecture (audio)
1
: the office or term of office of a prefect
2
: the district governed by a prefect
prefectural
prē-ˈfek-chə-rəl How to pronounce prefecture (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on prefecture

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prefecture

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