precinct

noun

pre·​cinct ˈprē-ˌsiŋ(k)t 

1

: a part of a territory with definite bounds or functions often established for administrative purposes : district: such as

a

: a subdivision of a county, town, city, or ward for election purposes

b

: a division of a city for police control

2

a

: an enclosure bounded by the walls of a building

—often used in plural

b

: a sphere of thought, action, or influence

—often used in plural

3

a

precincts plural : the region immediately surrounding a place : environs

b

: place, locale

4

: boundary

—often used in plural

a ruined tower within the precincts of the squire's grounds

—T. L. Peacock

Synonyms

• area
• arena
• bailiwick
• barony
• business
• circle
• demesne
• department
• discipline
• domain
• element
• fief
• fiefdom
• field
• firmament
• front
• game
• kingdom
• line
• province
• realm
• specialty
• sphere
• terrain
• walk

Examples of precinct in a Sentence

Voting results from several precincts are delayed.

They were taken to the precinct for questioning.

Recent Examples on the Web

When Maricopa County was still using precinct voting in the mid-2000s, election officials couldn't find enough places to house the 1,148 precincts required at that time, Marson said. —Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024

Despite several opposition protests across Russia, Putin easily claimed another six-year term by getting 87% of the vote with 80% of the precincts counted, election officials said. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024

The district, which sits just west of downtown, was heavily divided — with business-friendly Mulcahy winning in the Willow Glen and Cherry precincts, while Navarro won in the Rose Glen, Del Mar and West San Carlos neighborhoods. —Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024

Those trends continued on Tuesday in Virginia, where Ms. Haley won suburban precincts by 1.8 percentage points despite losing the state by 28 points. —Michael C. Bender, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024

Multi-million-dollar investments are going up in flames, along with schools, hospitals and police precincts. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024

In September 2023, 17 cities filed lawsuits against Hyundai for failing to install anti-theft technology in millions of vehicles, which also overwhelmed several police precincts in cities including New York, Cleveland, San Diego, Milwaukee, Columbus, and Seattle. —Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024

Mcpherson, of the Bronx, was arrested at the scene, police said, transported to a local police precinct and charged later that day with the felony, the spokesperson told USA TODAY Wednesday morning. —USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024

Peretti played Gina, an administrator at the precinct and Holt’s assistant. —Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin praecinctum, from Latin, neuter of praecinctus, past participle of praecingere to gird, encircle, from prae- pre- + cingere to gird — more at cincture

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

precinct

noun

pre·​cinct ˈprē-ˌsiŋ(k)t 

1

: an administrative district especially of a town or city

a police precinct

an electoral precinct

2

: a surrounding or enclosed area

within the precincts of the college