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

Known as tsujiura gashi, or fortune-telling confections, these came from Kanazawa, a city in Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026

The prefecture is known as Japan's rice country, home to the nation's largest rice harvest and its sake heartland. —Iona Brannon, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2026

Ushiku Daibutsu The Ushiku Daibutsu in Japan rises 330 feet (100 meters) in Ushiku City, Ibaraki prefecture. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026

Kesennuma Fish Market and Umi no Ichi The Miyagi prefecture town of Kesennuma is one of Japan’s biggest fishing ports, and its seafood market is a must-visit. —Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 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