prefecture

noun

pre·​fec·​ture ˈprē-ˌfek-chər 

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 

pri-ˈfek-

adjective

Examples of prefecture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Readings in the eastern city of Isesaki, in Gunma prefecture, surpassed the previous high of 41.2 C marked last week in the western city of Tamba in Hyogo prefecture, the country’s meteorological agency said. —Reuters, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025

In 2007, at age 29, he was elected as a city council member in Suita, Osaka prefecture. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 1 Aug. 2025

The prefecture is on Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu, facing the East China Sea to the west. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025

Tsunami waves were recorded along Japan's Pacific coast, the news outlet says, including one or some 4.26 feet in Iwate prefecture and another of 2.62 feet in Hokkaido. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 30 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prefecture

• prefecture apostolic

Rhymes for prefecture

• conjecture
• architecture
• lecture

Kids Definition

prefecture

noun

pre·​fec·​ture ˈprē-ˌfek-chər 

1

: the office or term of office of a prefect

2

: the district governed by a prefect

prefectural

prē-ˈfek-chə-rəl 

adjective