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.
By Kristin Braswell Comments Rosewood Miyakojima At Rosewood Hotels & Resorts' first property in Japan, on Miyako island in Okinawa prefecture, there are 55 oceanside villas with direct access to the beach. Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2025 The crater, about 32 feet wide and 16 feet deep, appeared about 10 a.m. local time (8 p.m. ET Monday), Motohiro Ono, governor of the Saitama prefecture, said at a media briefing Tuesday. Arata Yamamoto, NBC News, 28 Jan. 2025 And while Osaka is the second most popular prefecture for overnight stays, Katsuo-ji is rarely on the itinerary: the temple welcomes between 800,000 to 1 million visitors annually, around 70–80% of whom are from overseas, says Yamada. Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025 Rosewood Miyakojima is slated to open in May in Okinawa, a prefecture within the Ryukyu Islands. Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 28 Feb. 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 3 May. 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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