precinct

[pree-singkt]

noun

1. a district, as of a city, marked out for governmental or administrative purposes, or for police protection.

   Synonyms: ward

2. Also called precinct house. the police station in such a district.

3. Also called election district. one of a fixed number of districts, each containing one polling place, into which a city, town, etc., is divided for voting purposes.

4. a space or place of definite or understood limits.

   Synonyms: territory

5. Often precincts. an enclosing boundary or limit.

6. precincts, the parts or regions immediately surrounding a place; environs.

   the precincts of a town.

7. Chiefly British.,  the ground immediately surrounding a church, temple, or the like.

8. a walled or otherwise bounded or limited space within which a building or place is situated.

   Synonyms: compound

precinct

/ ˈpriːsɪŋkt /

noun

1. 1. an enclosed area or building marked by a fixed boundary such as a wall

   2. such a boundary

2. an area in a town, often closed to traffic, that is designed or reserved for a particular purpose

   a shopping precinct

   pedestrian precinct

3. 1. a district of a city for administrative or police purposes

   2. the police responsible for such a district

4. a polling or electoral district

Word History and Origins

Origin of precinct¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin praecinctum, noun use of neuter of Latin praecinctus, past participle of praecingere to gird about, surround, equivalent to prae- pre- + cing- (stem of cingere to surround; cinch ¹ ) + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of precinct¹

C15: from Medieval Latin praecinctum (something) surrounded, from Latin praecingere to gird around, from prae before, around + cingere to gird

Example Sentences

Officers took him to a local precinct before transferring him to a police station more than 200 miles away in Nairobi.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

As he sat down to face questions from the feds, his sentences traveled winding paths through vague precincts to fog-filled destinations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In Sydney's historic Rocks precinct, a cobblestoned alleyway has been transformed into a winter wonderland for two weeks of Christmas in July markets, complete with fake snow machines churning specks of foam onto passersby.

Read more on BBC

The requirement that North Carolinians present photo ID at the precinct when they vote in person or provide identification numbers to request an absentee ballot is one such election integrity protection.

Read more on Salon

They got him into a squad car, but according to the officers Smith continued to resist when they reached the precinct.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• district 
• neighborhood 
• ward