prefecture

American  

[pree-fek-cher] / ˈpri fɛk tʃər /

noun

1. the office, jurisdiction, territory, or official residence of a prefect.

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prefecture British  

/ ˈpriːfɛkˌtjʊə /

noun

1. the office, position, or area of authority of a prefect

2. the official residence of a prefect in France, Italy, etc

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Other Word Forms

• prefectural adjective
• subprefecture noun

Etymology

Origin of prefecture

From the Latin word praefectūra, dating back to 1570–80. See prefect, -ure

Example Sentences

Officials urged residents in seven prefectures from Hokkaido in the north to Chiba in central Japan to stay on high alert for a potential megaquake.

From BBC

No damage has been reported, an official in Kagoshima prefecture, where the volcano is located, told AFP.

From Barron's

It’s the southernmost prefecture in the Tohoku region, an area of about 25,000 square miles that is famous for its remote beauty.

From Literature

Aichi, the prefecture that includes Nagoya, came in ninth, with three million overnight stays.

From The Wall Street Journal

When Anna went for the second time, it was with her mother, who was eager to visit after watching a drama series set in the mountainous Altay prefecture in the north.

From BBC