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

The design recalls an Akita prefecture tradition of weaving swan feathers into men’s kimono-style jackets. — Leslie Camhi, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026

The drone is one of three Global Hawks owned by the air force and deployed at its Misawa Air Base in the northern prefecture of Aomori. — ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Lawson’s region-specific products in Japan reward tourists who visit multiple prefectures, turning a snack run into a hunt. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026

Thirteen prefectures and municipalities have already thrown their hats into the ring, including Osaka – a business-rich port city and tourism hub. — Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Sep. 2026

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