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 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.
She was born in Nara prefecture to a father who worked for a car company and a mother who was a police officer. Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025 Twenty-eight of Japan’s 47 prefectures reported an increase in flu cases, with Okinawa reporting the highest patient per-institution count. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Oct. 2025 The Gunma Prefectural Office said there have been 395 bear sightings in the prefecture in fiscal year 2025. David Chiu, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 In the second round, lawmakers had the same number of votes while rank-and-file party members had 47, representing the 47 prefectures of Japan. Arata Yamamoto, NBC news, 4 Oct. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Prefecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefecture. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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 adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on prefecture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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