precinct

pre·cinct

noun \ˈprē-ˌsiŋ(k)t\

: any one of the sections that a town or city is divided into when people vote in an election

: any one of the sections that a city is divided into for organizing the city's police forces

: a police station of a precinct

Full Definition of PRECINCT

1

:  a part of a territory with definite bounds or functions often established for administrative purposes :  district: as

a :  a subdivision of a county, town, city, or ward for election purposes

b :  a division of a city for police control

2

a :  an enclosure bounded by the walls of a building —often used in plural

b :  a sphere of thought, action, or influence —often used in plural

3

a plural :  the region immediately surrounding a place :  environs

b :  place, locale

4

:  boundary —often used in plural <a ruined tower within the precincts of the squire's grounds — T. L. Peacock>

Examples of PRECINCT

1. <a sexist attitude that was pretty common in the precincts of the automobile business>

Origin of PRECINCT

Middle English, from Medieval Latin praecinctum, from Latin, neuter of praecinctus, past participle of praecingere to gird, encircle, from prae- pre- + cingere to gird — more at cincture

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PRECINCT

Synonyms

area, arena, bailiwick, barony, business, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, firmament, front, game, kingdom, line, field, province, realm, specialty, sphere, terrain, walk

Related Words

frontier; study, subject; territory, turf; occupation, profession, pursuit, racket, vocation; ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confine, dimension(s), extent, ken, reach, scope, sweep, width; subfield, subspecialty

Rhymes with PRECINCT

extinct